“Whoever wants to join the EU must be ready for difficult steps as well”: Head of German diplomacy ahead of visit to the Balkans

The countries of the Western Balkans, in light of constant attempts by Russia and China to exert influence on them, must continue with reforms and demonstrate commitment to common European values as a condition for joining the European Union, German Foreign Minister Johan Wadeful stated today.

“The rule of law, the fight against corruption, and the defense of fundamental rights are not subjects for negotiation,” Wadeful said ahead of his departure for a tour of the Western Balkan countries, as reported by the dpa agency.

The head of German diplomacy emphasized that the countries of the region are an “inseparable part of the European family” and that “the European Union is not some distant promise, but their concrete perspective.”

“Anyone who wants to become part of this community of the rule of law and this market space must take on responsibility, even if it requires difficult steps,” Wadeful said.

He clarified that it is of decisive importance for the Western Balkan countries to diversify their energy sources in order to strengthen their independence and sovereignty in the long term.

“We in Germany know how painful and at the same time necessary that can be,” Wadeful said.

Dpa reminds that Germany completely freed itself from dependence on Russian gas after Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

According to him, NATO partners Montenegro and Albania have made significant progress on the path toward the European Union, and other countries in the region must, some to a greater extent, follow that path.

Wadeful’s tour of the six Western Balkan states first leads to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and then on November 17, he travels to Montenegro and Albania. The same evening, the head of German diplomacy will arrive in Belgrade. From Belgrade on Tuesday, he continues his tour with a visit to Kosovo and then North Macedonia./Beta/