The German State Secretary for Europe, Michael Roth, is "disappointed" that there was no progress in the integration of the countries of the Western Balkans during Germany's presidency of the European Union in the last six months.
"We urgently need positive signals for the Western Balkans. Nothing less than our credibility is at stake," Roth told a reporter from the Handelsblat newspaper in Brussels.
Roth hopes that progress will be made during the Portuguese presidency.
"We have to push it. Because peace, regional reconciliation and democracy in the Western Balkans are of central strategic importance for the whole of Europe, especially for the immediate neighborhood."
Handelsblat writes that Germany suffered a "heavy blow" in this field during the EU presidency.
"After Bulgaria initially blocked the start of accession negotiations with neighboring North Macedonia for internal reasons, the Czech Republic and Slovakia eventually blocked an important text on the progress of the planned EU expansion in Southeastern Europe."
The vacuum could be filled by others
The Dusseldorf newspaper adds that powers such as Russia, China and Turkey are interested in the region.
"There is a fear in Brussels and Berlin that the political and economic interests of powers outside the EU could further slow down the already long road to more rule of law, democracy and cross-border cooperation," writes Handelsblat.
"If the EU leaves a vacuum in the Western Balkans, then other powers, which do not share the EU's democratic values, will rush into that vacuum for geostrategic reasons," said Michael Roth, a Social Democrat politician.
"We are shooting ourselves in the knee," Roth added. He believes that the EU's hesitation is interpreted as weakness in a world where authoritarianism is gaining strength and democracy is coming under increasing pressure.
"Invisible" help
The German politician connects the issues of the rule of law and the fight against corruption with emigration from the Balkan countries.
"Younger generations vote by leaving the country. They leave their homelands because they don't see the future. It's a tragedy for the Balkan countries," Roth said.
He reminds that the EU helped Serbia and neighboring countries with 3,3 billion euros in the fight against the pandemic, that an investment package of nine billion euros is planned, and that the EU will show solidarity when it comes to vaccines. And yet, Roth added, the EU needs to do more to get that support noticed.
"The EU must be more present in the emotional understanding of people. Not so that we can pat ourselves on the back. After all, it is about Europe's breakthrough in systemic competition with authoritarian powers that will otherwise be anchored in the middle of Europe," added Michael Roth.
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