Para and support for the Western Balkans, but no free lunch”

According to them, the EU is seeking to regain rule of law and fundamental values in the region as a condition for membership.

The German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung believes that the European Union should fight “in open letters” and “closer to the Western Balkan countries, but not grant them membership for a time”.

The Frankfurt daily raises the question “why not create a privileged partnership with the region, strengthened by financial support ... if there is no prospect of membership in the long-term “, because this “would prevent the region from falling into authoritarian regimes and boost geopolitical competition”.

Repeating earlier views of ruling circles in Berlin, Paris and some other capitals of the Union, The FAZ raises the question “why not establish a privileged partnership with the region strengthened by financial support? ”

“This, of course, will require an open card game,” said the German daily, stating that the two sides are sticking to the enlargement process, which is an empty shell without substance. ”

“If full membership is not discussed for a foreseeable future, then the EU must say so,” writes the German newspaper, adding that the EU must clarify what can be done to prevent the region from becoming increasingly authoritarian to increase geopolitical competition in Europe's inner court”, writes Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

The Italian daily ʹ La Repubblica writes that the EU holds the formula, but also has no free lunch for the Western Balkans, and only those who prove that they meet the criteria and conditions can expect the EU to open their door.

While Brussels-based Euobserver agrees that the EU “repeated the marriage offer” for candidates from the Western Balkans “and this is reflected in the message that “The EU reiterates its irreversible support for the region's European perspective “.

Unofficial thoughts of diplomats and officials in the EU have been heard in the media that China and Russia are not that important, as the Western Balkans are extremely economically linked to the European Union from which investments come.

Natalie Tochi, director of the Italian Institute for International Affairs and Adviser of EU High Representative Josep Borrell, says “there is no risk of the Western Balkans sailing towards Chinese alldorados”, but that the region will collapse economically under the current weight of the coronary epidemic.

The Spanish daily lullo concludes that videoconference between EU and Western Balkan leaders is “a reflection of the European Union's efforts to avoid such a dramatic” result.