German Minister: The Balkans belong to the EU, and we will support the states on this road

"Despite all challenges, I believe the Western Balkans have its place in the EU, and Germany will continue to support the countries on this road”," said Anna Luhrmann, State Minister for Europe and Climate at the German Federal Foreign Ministry, in a welcoming address at the Civil Society Forum and Tnk Tank 2024 yesterday in Berlin.

This international conference is held on October 8th-10th, within the Berlin Process and is organised by the Southeast European Association and the Aspen Germany Institute, with the support of the German Federal Office.

Referring to the 10th anniversary of the start of the Berlin Process, Luhrmann said civil society organisations from the Western Balkans are an integral part of it and are impressed by their contribution to the process. She also stressed that the NGO sector in the region has faced numerous challenges.

These challenges include lack of funds and, much worse, civil society in the Western Balkans often faces intimidation, namely threats that have become common nowadays. That is what we are seeing in Serbia now. Let me be honest this is completely unacceptable. Even in situations where there is no consensus on opinion, the authority's obligation, including those in Serbia, is to protect all actors in public life, meaning freedom of the word”, the German minister has stressed, reports “epeanwesterns. com”

She stressed that Germany repeatedly calls on authorities in Serbia to facilitate the civil debate, as well as improve rule of law.

“These are the foundations that are closely linked to further progress in EU membership, as well as to accession to the common EU market”, Anna Luhrmann said.

According to the German minister, the governments of the Western Balkan countries must testify that they truly respect EU values and that they are seriously committed to the goal related to European integration”. As she stressed, this requires strong political will, confidence and co-operation among the countries of this region.

Luhrmann also referred to the efforts of some politicians, aimed at destabilising the region and as one of the “threats to democracy” in the Western Balkans, she cited the frequent “deforming areas”. According to her, “we need to co-operate more to whiteen the dezinforms”.

Speaking of the future of the Berlin Process, the German minister stressed the need for achieving reconciliation in the Western Balkans, so that all countries in the region are to join the EU, “in the union of peace and prosperity”. According to her, one of the key tasks of the Western Balkans “-outset” is the implementation of targets related to the so-called “Green Transition”.

The Berlin Process was established in 2014 as a platform to boost co-operation between the six Western Balkan countries and the host countries of the Berlin Process, as well as the EU. Senior Western Balkan Six Officials (BB6) and their colleagues in the host countries of the Berlin Process meet at least once a year at the Summit and Preparation Meetings of Ministers. The process also includes EU institutions, international financial institutions and civil society, youth and regional businesses.