Montenegrin PM Heads for First Meeting with Merkel

Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic will be hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday in Berlin, in his first official visit to Germany since he took the post in 2016, with Podgorica's bid to join the EU expected to be discussed.

Although the government has not yet confirmed the programme of the visit, the two officials are also expected to discuss also how the tiny Adriatic country is tackling illegal migration after some EU member demanded the "closure" of the so-called 'Balkan route' for migrants and refugees.

In a brief press release, Markovic's office said his visit to Germany will be an opportunity for an "exchange of views" with Merkel on bilateral relations and economic links between the two countries within the framework of the Berlin Process as well as the European integration of Montenegro.

The Berlin Process was initiated by Germany in 2014 to improve relations within the Balkan region and accelerate the EU integration of those states that are not yet members.

The focus is on those Balkan countries that are not yet members of the EU - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

'No border changes,' says Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday that "there will be no change in borders in the Western Balkans".

A possible territory swap between Serbia and Kosovo has been discussed by Balkan and international media for the past two weeks, after the leaders of both countries admitted that "border corrections" were on the table.  

Merkel said that changing borders cannot work, while also holding out the hope of EU membership for the countries in the region that are yet to join.

"The European...