Remarks by Angela Merkel at Press Conference after EU-Western Balkans Summit

Speaking at the press conference after the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia on 17^th of May, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, said that the process of talks is currently very dynamic and this should be used. It does not commit to specific dates for admission, she said and added that today we are talking not about enlarging the EU, but about giving a European perspective to the countries of the region.

Merkel thanked the Bulgarian Presidency for the exceptionally important meeting of the EU and the Western Balkans.

She did not answer the question whether the German Bundestag would support the opening of negotiations with Albania and Macedonia. According to Merkel, European leaders today do not speak about enlargement, but rather for giving prospects to Western Balkan countries, for their connectivity, for important infrastructure projects. She stressed that there were talks between Greece and Macedonia about the name and according to her, the talks were in positive direction. She also said that negotiations with Macedonia would be possible to begin after the name dispute was completely settled.

In addition to the Western Balkans, Merkel talked about another important topic - Iran nuclear deal. According to her, all European leaders have firmly decided that this deal will continue to be respected, although the United States has withdrawn from it, and now the question is how to support European companies that have business in Iran.

Merkel also touched upon the topic of trade relations with the United States. According to her, what Europe will want from Donald Trump is not another temporary increase in the duty-free import of steel and aluminum from Europe, but the regime to become termless.

Чуйте последните новини, където и да сте!
Последвайте ни във Facebook и Instagram
Следете и канала на БНТ в YouTube
Вече може да ни гледате и в TikTok
Намерете ни в Google News