DW: The German chief diplomat starts his Balkan tour tomorrow - what message will he bring to countries including Kosovo?
When German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul lands in Sarajevo on Sunday (16.11.2025) for the start of his four-day visit to the region, he is entering a delicate balance. He knows the region well – for years he has led the CDU/CSU Western Balkans Group in the Bundestag. This time, Wadephul is not traveling as a specialist politician, but as the head of a ministry whose course towards the countries of this region is perceived to be increasingly unclear.
From Podgorica, where political talks are set to begin on Monday (17.11.2025), comes a polite but direct request for guidance. At a DGAP event in Berlin on November 13, Montenegrin Integration Minister Biljana Papovic told DW that she hopes for "more engagement from Berlin and more clarity that the Western Balkans remain a priority for the German government."
For Podgorica, Germany's energetic leadership remains essential – not only for bilateral relations, but for the entire dynamics of the EU enlargement process.
An important political signal
In Tirana, Germany's role is still seen positively. But political analyst Alba Cela from AIIS warns that Berlin's support "is by no means self-evident." The latest EU barometer shows that only 49 percent of Germans support enlargement. Therefore, Wadephul's visit to Tirana is a weighty political signal.
Support for the EU in Albania is among the highest in the region: over 80 percent of citizens are in favor of membership. However, DGAP expert Milan Nic reminds us that Albania “is still at the beginning of a difficult path.” The country has not yet closed any negotiation chapters and, according to him, the biggest challenges will appear in the fundamental areas: property issues, regulation and the environment. “That’s where the real pain begins,” says Nic. The fight against corruption also remains a perennial topic.
Serbia: the most delicate ban
The most sensitive point of the tour is Belgrade. Support for the EU in Serbia is around 38 percent, while Russia's influence remains strong. The CDU has close political ties to President Aleksandar Vučić's party - but Serbia is the weakest country in the Commission's progress report.
Bundestag member Boris Mijatovic (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), who is currently in the Balkans with his colleague Anton Hofreiter, recalls the 2023 elections in Serbia. The OSCE documented manipulations and irregularities – Mijatovic expects Wadephul to raise this issue in Belgrade.
He also warns of a new geopolitical vacuum: USAID's withdrawal from media and democracy programs "creates a big problem" because it frees up more space for Russian influence.
What about Kosovo and Bosnia?
Kosovo, Europe's newest state, applied for EU membership three years ago. Today, the country is in a political crisis: eight months after parliamentary elections, there is still no functioning government, and new elections seem inevitable. Political scientist Njomza Arifi hopes that Wadephul's visit "will send a signal to the crisis and encourage those responsible to find a solution."
In Sarajevo, the German minister will meet with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the international High Representative, Christian Schmidt. Bosnia submitted its membership application in December 2022.
Don't forget North Macedonia
Mijatovic stresses that North Macedonia should not be left in the shadows. The country changed its name in 2019 to resolve the conflict with Greece and made substantial reforms. However, a constitutional amendment is now required again to include the Bulgarian minority. The uncertainty is great. “We have changed the name… but what comes after that?” he asks. This question sums up the loss of confidence in the enlargement process.
Skopje has been a candidate since 2005. Negotiations began in 2022, but there has been little movement since then. In the capital, Wadephul will meet with his counterpart Timco Mucunski.
Acceleration or deceleration?
The expectations for Wadephul are clear: Berlin must take a stand. His predecessor, Annalena Baerbock, had declared the integration of the Western Balkans as one of the three main priorities. Today, says Mijatovic, one hears “sometimes three, sometimes five priorities – and sometimes the Western Balkans are not there.”
The abolition of the post of Special Envoy for the Western Balkans is also seen as a negative signal. This post was last held by Manuel Sarrazin. The current government abolished the position in order to reduce the number of special envoys.
According to expert Nic, the clearest answer to the German government's course will only emerge later: "In 2026 it will be seen whether Germany will accelerate enlargement - or whether it will again remain a victim of competing priorities."/DW
