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Balkan Insight (10 August 2020)

Marija Ristic

The Western Balkans are high on the agenda of the German EU Council Presidency, but the concrete progress of states towards EU integration – from opening negotiations and chapters– depends on their own commitment to the rule of law and  media freedom, Susanne Schutz, director for the region at the German foreign office, told BIRN.

Germany took over the six-month presidency of the European Union this July and Schutz says it wants to see “renewed momentum” in relations between the bloc and the West Balkans.

This follows the EU decision to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, and the substantive solidarity package of 3.3 billion euros agreed for the region, to mitigate the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.

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