Minister Kajzer on EU enlargement: Western Balkans should deliver on reforms, while the EU must keep its word
SLOVENIA, October 1 - The Western Balkans is part of Slovenia’s immediate neighbourhood, and ensuring its stability and European future are in our interest. Slovenia supports the full EU membership of the Western Balkan countries, provided that their progress is based on meeting the relevant criteria and that the EU takes timely decisions on the candidates’ achievements. The accession process must deliver tangible benefits ahead of full integration. Slovenia therefore supports closer integration of the region into the EU single market, as well as improved transport, energy and digital connectivity, including through the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. Over the past decade, the Berlin Process has demonstrated that EU accession can be accelerated through enhanced regional cooperation. “It is essential that everyone, especially young people, can see progress on the path to the EU in their everyday lives, in the form of better opportunities for education, work, research and entrepreneurship, which will encourage them to stay in the region and build their future there,” said Minister Kajzer. This would help reduce the emigration of young people, which remains one of the region’s key challenges.
Progress towards EU membership also requires greater cooperation among the Western Balkan countries. In this context, Minister Kajzer underlined the importance of reconciliation, political dialogue and good neighbourly relations. He urged the countries to resolve their outstanding bilateral and regional issues more effectively, including those relating to the succession to the former Yugoslavia. “We cannot change the past, but we can ensure that unresolved issues do not become a burden for future generations. Without sincere dialogue and a willingness to reach concrete agreements, there will be no progress,” he emphasised.
Regional cooperation is also crucial for addressing security challenges such as cyberattacks, hybrid threats and disinformation, all of which recognise no national borders. Slovenia is working with France and Montenegro to strengthen the resilience of the Western Balkans in this regard. Since October 2024, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) has been operating as the cyber pillar of the Berlin Process, becoming an international organisation in March 2026. Minister Kajzer invited the Western Balkan countries to join the Centre as full members and to collaborate in strengthening the region’s cyber resilience.
“The Western Balkan countries are not only candidates for EU membership but also our partners in building a safer, stronger and more resilient Europe,” Minister Kajzer concluded.
Established in 2014 on Germany’s initiative, the Berlin Process is a platform dedicated to strengthening regional cooperation and supporting the Western Balkans’ integration into the EU. Slovenia has participated from the very outset.
The meeting was attended by foreign ministers or representatives from Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.
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