Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul’s tour across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, and North Macedonia from 16–19 November underscores Berlin’s renewed attention to the Western Balkans. For Germany, the region is Europe’s geopolitical frontline — essential in countering Russian aggression and limiting Chinese influence amid the war in Ukraine. The visit builds on the Berlin Process summit in Belfast — the latest round of the EU-backed initiative promoting regional cooperation and reform, prioritising merit-based reforms in the rule of law, anti-corruption, and democratic standards, with frontrunners Albania and Montenegro earning praise for advances while others face calls for bigger change.
Energy diversification features prominently too, mirroring Germany’s shift from Russian gas: diversifying energy sources aims to strengthen long-term energy sovereignty and resilience, alongside vows to combat disinformation undermining EU alignment. For Berlin diplomats, this isn’t optional: a united Western Balkans fortifies EU borders, secures energy routes, and sustains the Berlin Process as a reform accelerator—essential as domestic scepticism tests Germany’s enlargement credibility.
Know more on the Federal Foreign Office’s website.