For more than a decade, the Berlin Process has served as a platform for enhancing regional cooperation and supporting the European integration of theWestern Balkans. Launched in 2014 at the initiative of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, this process has become a bridge between the countries of the region and the European Union, creating concrete links through infrastructure projects, the improvement of trade relations, and the strengthening of social and cultural ties among peoples.
Germany’s Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Anke Konrad, underlines in her interview for EUpravo Zato that the process has produced tangible results that directly affect the quality of life of citizens - from the abolition of roaming charges and increased mobility to the creation of a common regional market and the strengthening of energy connections. However, she underlines that progress towards the European Union primarily depends on the political will and reform efforts of each individual country.
This year's Western Balkans Leaders' Summit was held in London, demonstrating that the Berlin Process remains an important platform even for countries that are not members of the EU but share the same goals - stability, prosperity, and continental security.
What would you highlight as the areas where the greatest progress has been made compared to the previous gathering?
"The Berlin Process was launched by former Chancellor Angela Merkel. Since 2014, it has brought together the Western Balkan countries, the EU and its member states, as well as key European partners. The United Kingdom assumed the presidency this year, as it did in 2018, which shows how significant this process is for the whole of Europe. We are convinced that regional cohesion in Europe is of fundamental importance for our security and prosperity. That is why, through the Berlin Process, we want to strengthen cooperation within the Western Balkans region and support the European integration of the six Western Balkan countries.
For over ten years, the Berlin Process has delivered visible results to people in the region; it supports exchange at all levels and reconciliation. Expanding infrastructure, enhancing regional mobility, abolishing roaming fees within the Western Balkans, intensifying youth exchanges, and interconnecting energy systems are all crucial steps that make everyday life easier for people.
The gradual strengthening of the common economic and trade space creates a foundation for the growth of national industries and their competitiveness in European and global markets. These concrete advances reinforce people’s confidence in the EU perspective and establish the region as an integral part of the European community. We want to build on the positive momentum of the past few years to achieve further progress in areas such as free movement within the region and the mutual recognition of university diplomas."
Compared to the first Summit in 2014, how much more prepared are the Western Balkan countries for EU membership?
"Since 2014, all Western Balkan countries have made progress - at varying speeds - in their individual processes of approximation and accession. One thing is clear: progress depends on the countries themselves. Political will and social dialogue are essential to achieving progress, as they enable the implementation of genuine reforms. That is the only way for people in their everyday lives to feel that closer ties with the EU are having a genuinely positive impact.
We will continue to support Serbia and the Western Balkan countries on their path towards the EU."
Apart from the annual Leaders' Summit, the Berlin Process includes a series of ministerial meetings throughout the year. Which topics are most in focus?
"The Berlin Process covers a wide range of topics, including regional economic cooperation, connectivity, transport, digitalisation, cyber security, youth empowerment, reconciliation, combating organised crime, corruption, and illegal migration, as well as education and science, Roma integration, energy security, climate and environmental protection, and agriculture. These issues are addressed at ministerial meetings, conferences, and other cooperation formats. This year, among others, the Youth Forum in Pristina, the Civil Society Forum in Podgorica, and the Economic Forum here in Belgrade have been held.
Flexibility and inclusiveness are the key advantages of the Berlin Process. They enable us to make progress in particularly important areas, such as developing the Common Regional Market to strengthen economic growth in the region and bring it closer to the EU, or advancing the EU’s Green Agenda. Strengthening civil society and empowering young people, as well as supporting the reconciliation process, are of particular importance to us."
A significant component of the Berlin Process consists of accompanying events - from the Civil Society and Youth Forums to the Digital Summit and Business Forum. How effectively are these events included in the decision-making process – in other words, do the voices of the civil sector and young people reach policymakers?
"The Berlin Process involves more than just governments. It is a forum for broad exchange among key actors from politics, society, academia, and the economy. Conferences such as the Civil Society Forum, the Youth Forum, the Digital Summit, the Economic Forum, as well as the Science Conference in Ljubljana and the Gender Equality Forum in Sarajevo, serve as important platforms for exchange among relevant experts across the region.
On 7 October, the first Regional Economic Forum within the Berlin Process was held in Belgrade - an important opportunity for company representatives from the region to come together and discuss common challenges and opportunities. The outcomes of the individual forums are reflected in the summit declaration, which in turn serves as a compass for the further development of the Berlin Process."
One of the most recognisable initiatives is the Western Balkans Purchasing Initiative, which connects regional companies with the European market. How has this mechanism helped the region’s economy prepare for the EU single market?
"The Western Balkans Purchasing Initiative of the German business community plays an important role in linking companies from the region with European markets. This strengthens the competitiveness of these companies and supports the development of new export markets. A better-connected internal market and stronger economic and trade relations with the EU are also part of the preparation for EU membership."
What do you think is the future of the Berlin Process: could it evolve into an institutionalised framework for cooperation in its next phase, or will it remain a flexible political platform?
"In recent years, the Berlin Process has proven extremely successful and has brought visible results in the region, significantly improving people’s lives. We are particularly pleased that the Berlin Process has managed to provide an impetus for the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which aims to accelerate the region’s preparations for EU membership, including enabling the Western Balkans to benefit from some of the advantages of EU membership even before accession.
The offer to join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) or integration into European industrial supply chains are just two examples from the Growth Plan that have already played a role within the Berlin Process. The Berlin Process remains important for fostering dialogue between politics, business, science, and society, and for opening up new thematic areas. For example, the Western Balkan countries have drawn up a work plan to enhance cooperation in the fields of employment and social policy. The next summit will be held in Montenegro in 2026 – the second time, after Albania in 2023, that it will take place in a Western Balkan country. Until then, we will continue working together in various formats to advance the goals of the Berlin Process."
A new element of the process, introduced in 2024, is the Gender Equality Forum. What does this initiative specifically bring, and how does it contribute to improving gender equality within regional cooperation?
"The Gender Equality Forum within the Berlin Process was organised for the first time in Berlin in 2024 by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The aim was to place the topic of equality at the heart of the Berlin Process and to address critical shortcomings. Economic empowerment and social security for women, the inclusion of women in decision-making and reconciliation processes were central themes - and they remain crucial today.
In Serbia and other Western Balkan countries, the importance of strengthening the role of women in society is increasingly recognised. The Gender Equality Forum provides a platform for sharing best practices and creating networks that empower women. This year, a regional network of women diplomats was launched, along with a platform to strengthen leadership, cooperation, and peer learning among women across the region."
(EUpravo zato)
