Overview

• Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosted the Western Balkans summit in Berlin, urging faster EU integration for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
• A new action plan for a regional market and a mobility agreement for students were adopted, alongside commitments to the Green Agenda with substantial financial support from Germany.
• Despite progress, unresolved issues like the Kosovo-Serbia dispute and democratic backsliding in the region continue to hinder the EU accession process.
• Critics argue that the EU applies double standards, pointing out that current member states like Hungary also face issues with democratic governance.
• The summit's outcomes include the lifting of a three-year blockade on the CEFTA free trade agreement, aiming to boost regional trade and cooperation.