Political analysts from Berlin and Brussels – Toby Vogel, Alexandra Stiglmayer and Bodo Weber commented the outcome of parliamentary elections in Germany, possible changes in the policy of Angela Merkel and future relations with the Balkans and BiH.
Vogel, who is the senior associate of the Democratization Policy Council in Brussels, stated that the Germans have voted for continuity.
“Germany has been quite exposed when it comes to the issue of refugees, then Islam and integration, and I cannot imagine any other country that would receive a million refugees and whose government would still be confirmed. However, the increase of xenophobic AFD in a country in which the memory of the Nazis’ crimes still determines the educational and political system is shocking,” said Vogel.
“When it comes to politics towards the Western Balkans, we came to a position where the Union was focused enough on this region. That leading role is not coming from Paris or Rome, but from Berlin. I do not expect any changes to this policy, but I hope that Berlin and Brisel would be aware that the entire region was in standstill, and that it also damaged the enthusiasm of the EU, especially those who advocated the perspective of the EU,” said Vogel.
The Secretary General of the Initiative for European Stability, Alexandra Stiglmayer, said that the outcome of the election in Germany was a certain kind of wake-up call.
Speaking of politics towards the Western Balkans, Stiglmayer said that in case that the so-called Jamaican coalition (CDU / CSU, FDP, Green) is formed, there will be no significant changes towards BiH and other Western Balkan countries.
“All these parties are supporting their EU approach, but they also insist that they meet all the criteria for accession. I hope that the Green will be promoting the enlargement process even more, but there will be no fundamental change,” noted Stiglmayer.
(Source: Radiosarajevo.ba)
