In the report from the summit of the Berlin process on Monday, the respected Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung highlighted the German Chancellor's statements Olaf Solac and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the fact that the path of the Western Balkan countries to the EU should be accelerated.
"The European Union is complete only with the countries of the Western Balkans," Scholz said, while Von der Leyen claimed that EU enlargement was "at the very top of the agenda" in Brussels. writes DW.
"Admittedly," writes the Frankfurt newspaper, "impatience is also noticeable during the performances of Scholz and Von der Leyen after the meeting of the Berlin Process." Scholz said that he hopes that 'it won't take another ten years' until the six countries of the Western Balkans become members of the EU."
The German chancellor emphasized that the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo "is not progressing satisfactorily".
In Berlin, the paper reports, an action plan for the common market, as well as for student exchange, was signed. A joint performance in the fight against illegal migration and the treatment of plastic waste was also agreed upon.
The paper also writes that in "government circles in Berlin" it is believed that during the Berlin process some things were achieved, such as the RYCO youth cooperation office and green lines for faster customs processing of goods.
Great frustration in the Balkans
Another leading daily Zideutsche Zeitung reports under the headline "Scholz wants to step on the gas" that the German chancellor is pushing for faster EU expansion. The text adds:
"The idea of the Berlin process is to make progress on a technical level like membership in the EU, even though there are still unresolved status issues, for example between Serbia and Kosovo."
The Rheinische Post, a newspaper from Dusseldorf, states that "frustration in the Balkan states is high - especially because Ukraine and Moldova, in the midst of Russian aggression, were made candidates for EU accession in record time."
Joint reception of the countries of the Western Balkans?
Ulf Brunbauer, who studies the history of the Balkans at the University of Regensburg, gave his opinion in the Berlin newspaper Tageskeitung.
Brunbauer says that for most countries such conferences are just a "must practice" to get some international attention. He criticizes that the EU applies double standards - reforms in the direction of more democracy are expected from the Balkan candidates, while in the middle of the EU, in Hungary, there is no such democracy.
"Why is there such a high degree of expectation towards the Western Balkans, when even EU members are destroying democracy?", asks the professor.
Tageskeitung states that Chancellor Scholz advocates for the joint admission of the six Balkan states to the EU, in order to avoid mutual blockades later. Others, however, advocate a gradual admission, let's say that the countries of the region are first admitted to the common market, and not immediately to full membership.
The text adds that Scholz is particularly interested in Serbian lithium, which Professor Brunbauer criticizes: "Olaf Scholz is exporting the negative consequences of climate change to semi-autocratic countries." It is reminiscent of German oil deals with countries like Saudi Arabia."
Admittedly, the Berlin newspaper adds, Scholz did not emphasize lithium on Monday, but projects that could be closer to citizens - the abolition of roaming fees in the region or the recognition of diplomas.
"By the way, the EU is not ready either"
The Cologne newspaper Stadt Anzeiger assesses that there have been "glimmers of light" in Berlin, but that bigger problems remain such as "ethnic conflicts, national conflicts, corruption, poverty and the refugee route from Syria and Africa through the Western Balkans".
The fact that Scholz and Von der Leyen are spreading optimism is a "ritual in this painful process", comments the newspaper, reminding that the countries of the region have been waiting two decades for admission to the EU. And the Berlin process has existed for ten years.
"But progress is slow as a turtle." Again and again, the countries of the Western Balkans are rejected because their standard of living is low, the state of democracy is questionable, and the national conflicts between them are too tricky. By the way, the EU is not ready either," writes the Cologne newspaper.
It is estimated that, while the principle of unanimous decision-making rules in Brussels, no one will expand the circle of members from 27 to 33, accepting new complicated partners.
"There are still 3.500 NATO soldiers in Kosovo - for protection from Serbia." And not all EU members recognized Kosovo. So it cannot function under the common roof of the EU."
The commentary concludes with the fact that it is still good that the perspective of EU accession is still open. "Because the alternative is for these countries to follow Russia's call." It would be a disaster for the EU."
Realistic alternatives?
The Berlin Morgenpost writes, commenting on the "worrying situation" above all in Serbia, that the stories that the perspective of full membership will call the countries of the region to a functional democracy without corruption are outdated and failed.
"It's time for both sides to play with open cards." Instead of working on full membership, as if they were building a pavilion neither in heaven nor on earth, realistic alternatives should be developed. The Balkan states should be offered a privileged partnership with participation in the common market, but without the right to vote and full political participation in the EU."
According to the Berlin newspaper, both sides would gain something from that. "Holding on to the enlargement process, which after decades has not brought success, will only create disappointment and damage the credibility of the EU," the text adds.
Source: Deutsche Welle
