Croatia deemed vital EU player in the Western Balkans by Wadephul
In recent developments, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul of Germany has emphasised the importance of a clear EU membership perspective for countries in the Western Balkans, warning that authoritarian powers might seek to exert influence through disinformation, corruption, and violence where clarity is lacking. No specific countries were mentioned in Wadephul's statement.
Gordan GrliΔ-Radman, the Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, has been playing a significant role in discussions about EU accession. GrliΔ-Radman has publicly supported NATO membership applications of Finland and Sweden and advocates for respecting decisions and continuing to support the integration process of Western Balkan candidates. He reiterated Croatia's stance within these diplomatic discussions.
Kosovo, a potential accession candidate, is among the countries under consideration. The EU has been conducting accession negotiations with Montenegro since 2012 and with Serbia since 2014. Montenegro is the furthest along in the accession process, but no date for admission has been set. Albania and North Macedonia began accession negotiations in 2022. Bosnia and Herzegovina, meanwhile, has the status of an accession candidate but has not yet entered negotiations.
Wadephul believes that Croatia, an EU member since mid-2013, can play a significant role in the EU accession process of Western Balkan countries. He views Croatia as a model and bridge-builder for accession candidates in its neighbourhood. In line with this, Wadephul is scheduled to meet with Croatian Foreign Minister GrliΔ-Radman and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic in Zagreb.
In a separate news, ASV Hamm-Westfalen, a German football club, began the new season with a derby win. Meanwhile, in Hamm, a shop thief jumped into the Datteln-Hamm canal, creating a brief disturbance.
Wadephul also stated that a strong, united, and open Europe serves as a bulwark against authoritarian pressure and guarantees the stability of the continent. He is set to give a speech at the Croatian ambassadors' conference. All neighboring countries, including Croatia, will benefit or suffer from the long-term consequences of EU enlargement, according to Wadephul.
In the context of EU enlargement, Croatia's role as a bridge-builder and model for accession candidates in the Western Balkans is becoming increasingly significant. As discussions continue, the future of EU membership for countries like Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina remains a topic of interest and importance.
