German chancellor Friedrich Mertz this Friday (June 5) he is in Montenegro, at the EU-Western Balkans summit. In Tivat, on the Adriatic coast, the heads of state, the government of the European Union and the six Balkan countries that want to join have gathered EU, but mostly they have been waiting for admission to the block for years, it says DW.
Germany and France therefore intend to summit in Tivat launch a new initiative aimed at speeding up the accession process. As reported by the German agency dpa, the two countries, in a joint document, are committed to taking initial steps towards integration even before full membership is obtained, in order to create incentives for reforms. Meeting specific accession criteria will be rewarded, for example, with privileged access to the EU's single market or the appointment of observers to EU institutions. Such an approach is also intended for Moldova, which borders Ukraine.
For Ukraine itself, Mertz initially proposed, two weeks ago, "associate membership" - essentially a form of "lite EU membership". That country, which is currently under attack from Russia, rejects such an approach and insists on quick, full membership.
The German agency emphasizes that Mertz's initiative regarding Ukraine should be viewed separately from the joint German-French effort regarding the Western Balkans.
Tensions between Serbia and Montenegro
However, there are constant tensions between the countries of the Western Balkans, and those between Serbia and Montenegro escalated before the summit in Tivat, according to the AFP agency, which reports that on Wednesday (June 3), the Montenegrin police returned the plane allegedly carrying supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. She cited concerns about "internal and national security" as the reason.
Subsequently, reports emerged that Montenegrin citizens faced significant delays in entering Serbia due to security checks or were even denied entry altogether.
Moreover, the intelligence service of Serbia advised President Vučić not to attend the summit, citing "hostile activities of foreign intelligence services and criminal clans in Montenegro" as the reason. The agency reports that the Serbian service warned that Radoje Zviter, the alleged leader of one of the largest Montenegrin criminal gangs, could be in the country at the moment. The Serbian intelligence service accused the Montenegrin authorities of not adequately securing the summit.
However, EU Council President Antonio Košta said at a joint press conference with Vučić in Belgrade on Thursday (June 4): "We have full confidence in the Montenegrin authorities."
A special meeting with Vučić on the sidelines of the summit
Vucic has meanwhile arrived at the summit. Together with other leaders, he also attended the gala dinner organized by the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović and Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. The number of police patrols and checkpoints has increased in Tivat.
Photo: FoNet/Instagram of the President of SerbiaA special meeting with Aleksandar Vučić is planned on the sidelines of the summit
The President of Serbia did not participate in the celebrations on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the independence of Montenegro held on May 21. Regarding his participation in the EU-Western Balkans summit, he said that he was traveling there not at the invitation of the government in Podgorica, but at the invitation of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
According to the sources of the AFP agency from the German government, a joint meeting of Merz, Košta, Von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron with Vučić is planned on the sidelines of the summit in Tivat.
Source: DW
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