EU shoots itself in the foot with Western Balkans policy

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - If the European Union (EU) leaves a vacuum in the Western Balkans, then other powers, which do not share the EU's democratic values, will fill that vacuum, said the State Secretary for Europe in the German Federal Foreign Office Michael Roth, Deutsche Welle reported today.

Roth expressed disappointment that there was no progress in the integration of Western Balkan countries 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 the Handelsblat newspaper.

Roth hopes that progress will be made during the Portuguese presidency.

"We have to push this forward. 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," assessed the German official.

Handelsblat writes that Germany experienced a "heavy blow" in this area during its EU presidency.

"After Bulgaria first blocked the start of accession negotiations with neighboring North Macedonia for internal reasons, the Czech Republic and Slovakia ultimately blocked an important text on the progress of the planned EU enlargement in Southeast Europe," the newspaper stated.

Handelsblat adds that powers like Russia, China, and Turkey are interested in the region.

"In Brussels and Berlin, there is concern that 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," Handelsblat stated.

"If the EU leaves a vacuum in the Western Balkans, then other powers, which do not share the EU's democratic values, will fill that vacuum for geostrategic reasons... We are shooting ourselves in the foot," Roth emphasized.

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.

The German politician links issues of rule of law and the fight against corruption with emigration from Balkan countries.

According to him, the younger generations who are leaving are abandoning their homeland because they see no prospects. "This is a tragedy for the Balkan countries," Roth said.

He reminds that the EU has 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. Nevertheless, Roth added, the EU must do more to make this support noticeable.

"The EU must be more present in people's emotional perception. Not so that we pat ourselves on the back. Ultimately, it is about Europe's breakthrough in systemic competition with authoritarian powers that will otherwise anchor themselves in the middle of Europe," Roth added.