Scholz from Skopje: Germany is serious for Western Balkans' EU integration

He announced that he met with Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski, who has also conveyed the message that the EU will keep its word on opening negotiations, especially towards northern Macedonia.

Scholz from here also conveyed his state's pledge to the entire Western Balkan region for Union integration.

“The EU has given its word, especially to northern Macedonia, for opening membership negotiations without delay. I also told Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski. Germany is serious about EU integration of Western Balkan states”, wrote Scholz in Twitter After his meeting with the Macedonian leader, Express newspaper reports.

Meanwhile, this last one in Twitter He said it was a pleasure to host the German Chancellor in Skopje, accompanied by Germany's highest federal government advisers, as well as the newly appointed special emissar for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazzin.

After Skopje, Scholz will continue in Sofia, Bulgaria. At the centre of the talks Saturday is the row between Skopje and Sofia that impedes the opening of negotiations for northern Macedonia and Albania. Bulgaria has been stalling this for years by raising historical claims. Until the first day of the visit, Scholz appealed to Pristina and Belgrade for speeding up reforms that initiate the membership process. The German Chancellor asked Serbia to join EU sanctions and stressed that mutual recognition with Kosovo is needed so that both states become EU members.