Soltz: “The Berlin Process” is bringing results

THE “Berlin Process” brings results, emphasized the chancellor Olaf Solz and highlighted the need – in the light of and her Russian attack on Ukraine – to accelerate the European perspective of Western Balkans and to achieve the goals set with the “Thessalonica Agenda” in 2003 – “in the interest of all of us”.

“The stability of the region cannot be treated separately from the stability and prosperity of Europe as a whole” said Solz, announcing a while ago the inclusion of the work of the Summit of the “Berlin Process” for the Western Balkans, in which Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also participates. The countries of the region “belong to free democratic Europe”, he added and assured that their integration into the European Union “is in the interest of all of us”. We must all make the necessary efforts in order to implement the goals set in Thessaloniki 20 years ago, noted the chancellor and spoke of “common vision” shared by the countries of Europe, including the Western Balkans.

Referring to the three agreements that will be signed today in the context of the Synod, for the mutual recognition of identities, academic and professional titles, Olaf Solz underlined that they will facilitate the daily life of the citizens of the region by strengthening their internal common market, but he also pointed out that these commitments today acquire an urgent nature, because of of Russia’s “barbaric war attack” against Ukraine. Is important to stand united and defend freedom and the rule of law in Europe, said the chancellor, stressing, as reported by APE-MPE, the need to overcome regional conflicts, “which prevent you from moving forward”. He specifically referred to the importance of promoting the process normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo and assured that the citizens of the region “can count on the support of Germany” and of the “Berlin Process”.

About her today’s agenda, Olaf Solz also referred to the discussion that will take place on the cooperation of the countries of the region and the reconciliation process of the peoples, in the context of which there will also be a meeting with young people and representatives of civil society. He also made special mention of the region’s energy security and its transition to renewable energy imgs, welcoming the countries’ decision to cooperate with the energy community in order to achieve climate goals. As the chancellor said, the issues of irregular immigration, corruption and organized crime will also be taken up by the Synod. It is crucial, he emphasized, to harmonize the procedures for issuing travel visas of the Western Balkan countries with those of the EU.