The event in Skopje was the first one organized on a ministerial level during the presidency of the Berlin Process held by Bulgaria and North Macedonia – an initiative that supports regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and complements activities undertaken under the EU enlargement policy.

The presidency is held for the first time by two countries, including one that represents the Western Balkans. Such a format enhances the sense of regional responsibility for the European future of the region.

The Skopje meeting was attended by the Western Balkans’ heads of diplomacy, i.e. of Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, and the EU members of the Berlin Process: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Italy, and also the United Kingdom. Representatives of the European Commission and the European External Action Service were also present.

The talks focused on summing up the achievements made so far under the Berlin Process and the future of the initiative, also in the context of already existing regional formats of cooperation.  - Poland consistently backs the EU membership of the Western Balkans countries, and the Berlin Process is an initiative which offers opportunities of undertaking new activities complementary to the efforts made to date in the region to join the EU, -  stated the undersecretary of the Polish MFA.

The ministers also discussed the EU prospects of the Western Balkans’ region in the context of recent changes of the accession negotiation methodology, before the March European Council Summit, and ahead the meeting of EU-Western Balkans’ prime ministers in Zagreb this May. The debate also focused on the issue of opening the EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. Both countries, in the opinion of the European Commission and of a substantial majority of the EU member states, including Poland, fulfilled all conditions necessary to open talks.

The meeting of foreign ministers was preceded by the Think-tank Forum, organised jointly by the Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” Skopje and Sofia Office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. The forum focused on the future of the EU’s enlargement, economic convergence, environment, rule of law, migration, security and hybrid threats.

The Berlin Process was launched by a summit on 28 August 2014 in Berlin. Poland joined the Process in 2018.

The initiative brings together six Western Balkans countries who are either candidates (Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Albania) or potential candidates (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo) to join the EU, and are covered by enlargement policy. Some EU member states, as well as the United Kingdom, despite its exit from the EU, also take part in the Process. The Berlin Process is also supported by the European Commission, international financial institutions, international and regional organisations, including the non-governmental and youth organisations from the Western Balkans, such as the Regional Cooperation Council and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office.

The main focus of the Berlin Process is economy. It supports the development of infrastructure, especially in the area of transport and energy, though the implementation of projects on the Connectivity Agenda, such as the redevelopment of ports, renovation of railway connections or the construction of gas interconnections. Another important dimension of the Process is economic integration. The Process also launches initiatives to strengthen civil society, support youth and address difficult bilateral issues. These topics were emphasised during Poland’s presidency and the Poznan Western Balkans Summit in July 2019.

Poland held the presidency of the Berlin Process at a politically challenging time both from the perspective of the European agenda (elections to the European Parliament, appointment of the new European Commission), as well as of the Western Balkans region. Despite these difficulties, the very  comprehensive and extensive programme of our presidency was noticed and appreciated. The Polish priorities and formats are continued by the joint presidency of Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Press Office 

Photo: MFA