The Berlin Process Meeting of Foreign Ministers took place in Tirana on October 6, 2023. Attendees of the meeting included the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Western Balkans, the ministers of other countries in the Berlin Process, the EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi, and also the Secretary Generals of the RCC and RYCO.

After the conclusion of the ministerial, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, Annalena Baerbock and the EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi held a joint press conference.

As he stressed the significance of regional cooperation in creating economic stability, Minister Hasani applauded the Western Balkans’ efforts in putting the Common Regional Market accords into practice.

“What we want to achieve is to revitalize the European integration process of our countries through concrete and tangible measures that the citizens of our countries can see as affecting their daily lives, as well as to economically prepare our countries for membership. We expect Serbia to launch a serious investigation into the criminal terrorist organization. The Kosova-Serbia dialogue is the only path towards peace”, the Albanian chief diplomat stated.

The German Minister of Foreign Affairs Baerbock stated that new and necessary reforms are needed in the Western Balkans, so that the region can advance in its European path.

“We want to walk together with you, side by side towards the path in the EU. We are worried if there will be rising tensions between Kosova and Serbia, for us it is very important to have a de-escalation of the situation”, the minister stated.

Commissioner Várhelyi stated that the main priority of his work remains the integration of the region in the EU, as he strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Kosova.

“All perpetrators should be brought to justice, the Serbian authorities have to fully collaborate with us in regards to this case. The commissioner emphasized the importance of the EU’s Western Balkans enlargement.

The Ministers discussed the geopolitical situation in the region as a whole and in the Western Balkans. They also evaluated the successes and difficulties of regional cooperation within the Berlin Process to demonstrate the political will to strengthen this cooperation.

This is the first time that a meeting of the Ministers of the Berlin Process was held in a country of the region. The Ministerial precedes the Berlin Process Summit which will be held on October 16, in Tirana.