The Enlargement Berlin Itself Called Undelivered: 'We Did Not Deliver on What We Promised'
German Foreign Minister Wadephul warned the EU is jeopardizing its credibility after 23 years of delays in Western Balkans enlargement, a process that began in Thessaloniki back in 2003.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned that the European Union is jeopardizing its credibility through prolonged delays in Western Balkans enlargement. He traced the timeline of promises — the EU confirmed the Balkan countries' European perspective at the Thessaloniki summit in 2003, Angela Merkel launched the Berlin Process eleven years later in 2014, and as of 2026 — 23 years after the original promise — commitments remain unfulfilled.
"We did not deliver on what we promised," Wadephul said, highlighting a critical credibility gap. He said enlargement is at a crossroads and called on member states to show that regional countries can rely on European commitments. The German minister also pointed to the geopolitical dimension — prolonged delays create opportunities for rival powers to gain influence in the Balkans.
Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger echoed similar concerns, warning that the EU cannot remain stuck in bureaucratic procedures while other actors fill the vacuum. The statements come just after European Commission President von der Leyen's visit to Skopje, at a time when the country is left out of the announced fast-track roadmaps for the four candidates with prospects of membership by 2030.
MKNews Hub · Macedonia · October 2, 2026
