Merkel’s Balkan Farewell More than Just Symbolic

Germany's credibility was always high in the Western Balkans, much of it due to Merkel, whose Germany has been crucial to shaping the debate on EU enlargement to the region.

However, in order to maintain this credibility, the next German government will have to adapt to new challenges and circumstances pertaining to the region.

Thus, Merkel took the opportunity to visit the region one last time and send a strong message, not just to the Western Balkans, but to the future German government and Germany's partners in the EU.

Here are four important takeaways from the visit:

1. German commitment continues after Merkel

Regardless of the outcome of the German federal elections this month, the new German chancellor is likely to remain committed to the Western Balkans. This was the first message that Merkel wanted to convey during her visit.

"Regardless of how the German election turns out, any new German Chancellor will have a heart for the region," Merkel said during the press conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Germany, she stressed, will continue to support regional cooperation and integration.

Merkel knows that expectations of the German leadership are high, especially since the EU's credibility in the region has been undermined by a lack of progress in accession talks with Serbia and Montenegro, delayed membership talks for Albania and North Macedonia and lack of visa liberalisation for Kosovo.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2-C) and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama (L) during a welcome ceremony in Tirana. Photo: EPA-EFE/Malton Dibra

2. The Berlin Process is irreplaceable

Merkel made it clear that Germany will continue to support the region's EU aspirations and...