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European News Room (26 August 2025)

The process for EU membership of Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo is at a standstill. Germany’s Foreign Minister is now holding Zagreb accountable.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul wants to boost the EU enlargement process with the Western Balkan(*) countries – and sees Croatia in a key role for this. “We need new momentum for enlargement now – for Ukraine, for Moldova, and for the countries of the Western Balkans,” said Wadephul at a meeting with his colleague Gordan Grlić Radman in the Croatian capital Zagreb. “Here, I wish for an active, a shaping role for Croatia as a companion,” he added.

Among the Western Balkan countries, Montenegro is seen as the furthest along in the EU accession process, but a date for accession is not in sight. The EU has been conducting accession negotiations with Montenegro and Serbia since 2012 and 2014, respectively. The negotiation process with Albania and North Macedonia started in 2022. Bosnia and Herzegovina has candidate status but has not yet entered negotiations. Kosovo is a potential candidate for accession.

(*) AVİM considers the term "Western Balkans" to be a politically motivated separatist terminology and insists on the use of the geographical and historical identification "Balkans" regarding the region.

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