France and Germany believe that this move will bring the countries of the region closer to the European Union and that gradual integration will contribute to the success of the enlargement process.
Ahead of the summit, France and Germany sent a non-paper to other member states, proposing concrete steps for the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries and Moldova. Jutarnji list (Croatian newspaper) gained insight into the informal document, which was drafted by associates of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The countries of the region and Moldova would be invited more frequently to meetings with the EU, ranging from ministerial meetings to informal sessions of the European Council. Countries would also be included in joint programs and policies, especially referring to chapters where benchmarks are met.
Countries would also have the chance to use “green lanes” at border crossings. Furthermore, they would join the meetings related to foreign and security policy issues, but only after countries meet the criteria of Chapter 31, which covers these areas, and provisionally closing of that chapter. Sectoral integration into the EU single market is also proposed.
In certain EU bodies, representatives from the Western Balkan countries would participate in meetings with observer status, but without voting rights.
As an example of this gradual integration, the EU mentions the inclusion of the Western Balkan countries in the free roaming system that exists within the Union. Just this Thursday, the Council of the EU adopted a decision to launch negotiations with the Western Balkan countries on the abolition of roaming charges, with the start of these talks expected soon.
“This will not affect the goal of full EU membership. Our aim is neither to replace full membership nor to prolong the path toward it, but quite the contrary. We want to create momentum that will accelerate progress on that path,” the informal document states.
France and Germany believe that this will bring the countries of the region closer to the European Union and that gradual integration will contribute to the success of the enlargement process. They expect the European Commission to begin working on the realization of these ideas and to present proposals for the gradual integration of candidate countries. Since all candidate countries are at different stages of the accession negotiation process, they will not be able to utilize the opportunities mentioned in the Franco-German proposal in the same uniform manner.
Albania was among the first countries to express interest in this idea, which was welcomed by the country’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, at the summit in Tivat, emphasizing that this does not mean abandoning the goal of full membership.
