On 1 October 2024, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg took part in the annual meeting of foreign ministers of the Berlin Process. The aim of the Berlin Process is to support the six Western Balkan states on their path to the EU. The meeting held in Berlin marked the tenth anniversary of the format and provided an opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved so far. In view of the “ring of fire” around Europe, it was clear to the foreign ministers present that the Western Balkans must remain at the top of the agenda.

Ten years after the start of the Berlin Process, it is all the more important to continue our efforts at an accelerated pace. The Western Balkans must finally become part of our EU family. Enlargement is our strongest geostrategic instrument.

Foreign Minister Schallenberg said.

Austria is at the forefront of the EU member states calling for the integration of the Western Balkan states into the EU. Foreign Minister Schallenberg was therefore particularly pleased with the goals achieved as part of the Berlin Process, such as the “Green Lanes” to reduce waiting times at the borders and progress in regional cooperation between the Western Balkan states. At the center of this is the gradual establishment of a common free market for the movement of goods, services, capital and people in the region, which began in 2020.

Despite the many positive developments, Foreign Minister Schallenberg warned against taking the wind out of the sails:

In view of the increasingly volatile geopolitical situation around Europe, the following applies more and more every day: we must not lose sight of the Western Balkans. Either we export stability - through the enlargement process - or we import instability.

In this context, Foreign Minister Schallenberg has initiated the “Friends of the Western Balkans” group in addition to the Berlin Process, which has developed further proposals for a faster and gradual integration of the region. These include increased exchange on an equal footing and the participation of the region in important EU policy areas such as the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Foreign Minister Schallenberg also used the meeting for a bilateral exchange with his counterpart from Serbia, in which, among other things, progress on the necessary reforms was discussed. During the talks, he emphasized that Austria remains a reliable partner for the Western Balkan countries on their path to the EU.

About the Berlin Process
In the Berlin Process, which was initiated by Germany in 2014, the EU member states Austria, France, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Poland, Slovenia and the United Kingdom are working together with the six Western Balkan states, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to bring the region closer to the European Union. Austria has been a supporter from the very beginning. The traditional Austrian focus is on youth, where the Foreign Ministry works together with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) established as part of the process to promote networking between young people in the region and the diaspora living in Austria

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