Merc and Macron intend to launch an initiative in Tivat that will accelerate the integration of Western Balkan countries into the EU

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron intend to launch a new initiative at the European Union-Western Balkans-Moldova summit in Tivat to accelerate the integration of Western Balkan candidate countries into the European Union (EU).

In a joint position paper, the governments in Berlin and Paris advocate for the first steps in integration even before full membership, in order to accelerate the integration process, the dpa agency writes today.

Fulfilling certain criteria for admission will, according to the document, be rewarded with privileged access to the common European market and the sending of observers to European institutions.

"Enlargement policy needs new momentum," reads a document from Berlin and Paris, which the dpa agency has had access to.

Merz plans to meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić at the summit, along with European Council President Antoni Košta, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and President Macron.

The German agency dts, citing government sources in Berlin, previously reported that Merck was planning bilateral talks with leaders of the region, namely with the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović, the Prime Minister of North Macedonia Hristijan Mickovski, and the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Bećirović.

"As reported in government circles, special emphasis will be placed on the prospects of the six Western Balkan countries joining the EU in these talks. Specifically, the first proposals for their faster integration into EU institutions and policies are expected even before their full membership," the dst agency stated.

Dpa writes that this information is in line with the idea of ​​the German Chancellor, who two weeks ago said that new ideas and flexibility are needed in the EU enlargement process and proposed the gradual integration of six Western Balkan countries and associated, conditional membership for Ukraine.

The agency states that Merz's initiative for Ukraine should be viewed separately from the idea for the Western Balkans, but that they build on each other.

Ukraine rejected Merz's idea and insists on full membership as soon as possible.

Reuters reported earlier today that a document it had seen stated that Germany and France had proposed giving countries aspiring to EU membership more opportunities to participate in EU programs and access the single market before joining the bloc.

The document says the aim is to bring a new dynamic to discussions on the 27-member bloc's expansion, ahead of a summit of EU and Western Balkans leaders on Friday, as well as another summit with Moldova later this month.

Enlargement has gained greater prominence on the EU agenda due to Russia's war against Ukraine, with Kiev seeking to join the bloc to cement itself in Europe's political mainstream.

However, the process of joining the bloc is usually long and bureaucratic, involving years of negotiations and legal reforms, which is why EU officials are looking for ways to offer candidate countries more tangible benefits before the journey is complete.

"We must provide additional incentives within the framework of a gradual, merit-based integration process and simplify the current process to make it more efficient and enable faster and deeper integration," the Franco-German document states, Reuters reports.

The document suggests possible participation in EU student exchange and research programs, as well as potential integration in areas such as energy, industry and the EU emissions trading system - if the candidate country meets certain standards.

It also opens up the possibility of allowing representatives of the Western Balkan countries and Moldova to participate in parts of EU ministerial meetings and summits, but without the right to vote.

The document follows a proposal last month by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to grant Ukraine a new status of “associate member” as an interim step towards EU membership, which he said could make it easier to reach an agreement to end the war with Russia.

However, the proposal raised questions about the Western Balkan countries that have been working for years to join the EU, and which, under his plan, would not be given the same opportunities as Ukraine.

EU officials say Montenegro is the most advanced candidate. Albania has also made progress in its efforts.

Moldova and Ukraine are expected to start negotiations on the first thematic cluster of EU standards soon. Other candidate countries include North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia.