Foreign ministers of Europe, Western Balkans meet in Berlin to discuss EU integration

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) – The foreign ministers of European and Western Balkan countries met on Tuesday in Berlin to discuss plans for the region's EU integration.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock hosted the meeting as part of the Berlin Process to discuss the region's integration to the bloc.

According to a statement after the meeting, the participants from the Western Balkans agreed on multiple elements to deepen regional cooperation and advance the common regional market.

The statement said a notable achievement from the process is the Agreement on Access to Higher Education and Admission to Higher Studies in the Western Balkans.

"This agreement seeks to grant students the right to pursue studies at accredited higher education institutions and promotes student mobility," it said.

The agreement will be concluded at the Berlin Process Summit on Oct. 14.

The participants also endorsed a declaration on Regional Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Screening Standards for the Western Balkans Six.

A joint Declaration on Research and Innovation Infrastructure Access and Collaboration was also agreed to encourage research and innovation partnerships and facilitate a dynamic regional innovation ecosystem.

Tuesday's agreements and declarations are set to be concluded by the Berlin Process Summit on Oct. 14.

The Berlin Process was implemented in 2014 by then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel to strengthen and deepen cooperation between Western Balkan countries, as well as to accelerate the integration of those countries into the EU.​​​​​