Much faster because of the Ukraine war?

Chancellor Scholz wants to bring six Balkan countries into the EU - "dynamise"

Created: 05/10/2022, 18:09

By: Patrick Mayer

Capital of Serbia: Belgrade on the Sava.

© IMAGO / ecomedia/robert fishman

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) announces accelerated EU accession talks with six countries from the Western Balkans because of the Ukraine war.

Serbia's proximity to Russia is likely to play a role.

Munich/Berlin - On the day that Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (The Greens) visited Butscha and Kyiv in the middle of the Russia-Ukraine war, a foreign policy maneuver by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) almost went under.

The German head of government met Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) in the Federal Chancellery.

Of course, the focus of the talks was on the Ukraine conflict.

Russia-Ukraine War: EU and NATO campaign for influence in the Western Balkans

In addition to the delivery of arms to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, it was also about how the influence of Moscow ruler Vladimir Putin in the Western Balkans can be restricted.

In focus: Serbia.

The country has long been an ally of Russia, but has gradually turned to the West over the past decade and a half in its bid to join the EU.

Even the currently governing Serbian Progressive Party, which can be assigned to the right-wing conservative and nationalist spectrum, is pursuing the pro-European course.

In the video: Compact - The news about the Russia-Ukraine war

A look back: When Russia attacked Crimea on the Black Sea in violation of international law in 2014, Belgrade rejected sanctions against Moscow.

The then Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic stated: “Serbia wants to become a member of the EU.

This is our national and state interest.

But Serbia never wants and will never be against Russia.

Our EU membership will in no way weaken or even sever our ties with Russia.”

The proximity to Russia has historical reasons.

Just one example: when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia in July 1914 at the beginning of the First World War, Moscow and its troops militarily supported Belgrade.

EU accession negotiations: progress of the countries in the Western Balkans as of May 10, 2022

• Serbia (around 7 million inhabitants):

  On December 22, 2009, the country officially applied for EU membership.

  Serbia has had candidate country status since March 2012.

  Since then, thirteen meetings of the accession conference at ministerial level have been held in Brussels.

  18 of 35 chapters have been dealt with.

• Montenegro (around 620,000 inhabitants):

  The small country has been an EU accession candidate since December 2010.

  All of the 35 negotiation chapters have now been opened.

  They met together fourteen times.

• North Macedonia (about 2.1 million inhabitants):

  The country has had the status of an accession country since 2005.

  However, accession negotiations were only decided in March 2020.

  However, the start of negotiations has recently been delayed.

• Albania (around 2.8 million inhabitants):

  The country on the Adriatic coast submitted its application for membership on April 24, 2009.

  Albania has been an official candidate country since June 24, 2014.

  But even in this case, concrete negotiations have been delayed for years.

• Bosnia and Herzegovina (population around 3.3 million):

  Considered a potential applicant.

  The EU is committed to the membership of the Balkan country insofar as it meets the criteria for admission.

• Kosovo (population around 1.8 million):

  Considered a potential candidate.

  The EU is committed to the membership of the Balkan country insofar as it meets the criteria for admission.

Source: Baden-Württemberg State Agency for Civic Education, The EU accession candidates, as of May 10, 2022

Ukraine News: Serbia is politically close to Russia - and economically close to the EU

However, today the Serbian economy is particularly dependent on the European Union (EU).

A comparison: According to

, between 2007 and 2013 Serbia delivered goods worth a good four billion euros to Russia.

Goods worth almost 33 billion euros went to the EU in the same period.

Conversely, EU investments in Serbia were four times higher than those of Russia at the time.

The EU accession negotiations have recently stalled somewhat.

Against the background of the Ukraine war, the Western states are now apparently making increased efforts to win over their partner on the Sava.

At the beginning of May, Chancellor Scholz invited Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to Berlin.

The German head of government also met with Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

Scholz emphasized that progress in the dispute between Serbia and Kosovo is of "enormous importance" on the way to EU membership for both countries.

Kosovo has not even submitted an application.

Since 2003, the small country has been a sub-region of the Republic of Serbia, which questions the independence of Pristina after the bloody conflicts in the Kosovo War (1998-1999).

Scholz now wants to mediate.

And not just him.

Met in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (left) and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).

© IMAGO / Christian Spicker

Russia-Ukraine-News: NATO and EU strive for stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the West has been trying to achieve more stability in fragile Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This is where the Republic of Srpska is concerned.

In January, the country's Serbian republic, which has its own political system, celebrated the 30th anniversary of its founding - despite a ban on it by Bosnia and Herzegovina's constitutional court.

Even US sanctions did not stop the political leadership in Banja Luka.

Milorad Dodik, the Serbian representative in the three-man presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, invited the Russian ambassador instead.

Last but not least, Dodik is said to be very close to Moscow ruler Putin.

What's more, the United States accuses the Kremlin of supporting the Bosnian Serbs' efforts to secede.

Most recently, both US President Joe Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that they intend to increase their military presence in the Western Balkans with a view to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The statements made by German Chancellor Scholz this Tuesday (May 10) that he wants to "dynamize" and accelerate the EU accession talks with the six countries in the Balkans fit into this context.

In addition to Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, this includes Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia and Kosovo.

To limit Putin's influence in this part of the world as much as possible.