BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) – With European Union plans to include the Balkans in the bloc, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday that she was urging Serbia and other countries in the region to do more in democratic transition.
The Western Balkans – including Serbia, Bosnia, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo – have been seeking EU members for years. But because of the growing interest in the bloc in the expansion and the difficult years the EU faced when Britain withdrew from the bloc, the Balkans were left to search for another alliance, including Russia and China.
“All of us who are already members of the European Union should always let ourselves know that there is a real interest in geo to integrate these countries into the EU,” Merkel said at a press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbian capital Bel Belade.
Merkel noted the presence of other Balkan smokers.
“There are also influences from other parts of the world and if the European Union does not move quickly … then one is forced to prepare itself with others,” Merkel said. “As a German chancellor and member of the European Union, (I) always tells myself the importance of the European Union approaching these countries.”
Merkel did not run in the by-elections this year after leading Germany since 2005. Germany is holding elections on September 26.
Vucic, a former technical adviser, praised Merkel as a true ally who during her 16 years as chancellor of Germany was able to “establish peace” in the Balkans during the 1990’s.
“He was definitely a real European leader,” Vucic said. “I’m afraid who will replace him.”
Vucic is known as a staunch supporter of Merkel in the Balkans despite having extremist tendencies that include self-publishing, lawlessness and disrupting free and fair elections. These three foundations of democracy are essential for any country to join the EU-27 states.
Merkel has never publicly criticized Vucic for her political policies. Many believe he feels he is the only Aserb leader to find a solution in Kosovo, a region that has already exploded in Serbia where their rights Serbia and its allies Russia and China do not recognize, while the US, Germany and many Westerners know.
“I think being honest about our conversations and being able to listen to each other and then come up with ways to do this shows our relationship,” Merkel said on Monday. “I knew Aleksandar Vucic as someone who never made false promises and always tried to keep his promises.”
He urged Serbia to “do more in accordance with the rule of law, democracy, population growth.”
After Belgrade, Merkel travels to Tirana, the capital of Albania, on Tuesday, where she is expected to meet with five other Western Balkan leaders seeking to become a member of the EU.
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Kristen Grieshaber contributed from Berlin.