Brussels, 11 April 2025 (MIA) - We have been talking about the EU integration of the Western Balkans for two decades but we haven't seen significant progress because neighboring countries regularly "put the brakes on", says Austria's Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Family Claudia Plakolm in an interview with APA news agency.

Minister Plakolm  says the EU should give advanced membership candidates like Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania access into Union programmes.

"For example, this might be done through improved economic cooperation with tangible benefits for the people and businesses in the Western Balkans, of course by meeting commitments. This should be done step by step and countries that are making good progress to be involved in European programmes," says Plakolm.

She hopes and wishes that the EU admits the new members "in the coming few years, and certainly by 2030".

On speeding up the integration process, the Austrian minister says the EU should review the veto right when taking decisions related to enlargement.

"It would be more reasonable to make some steps faster and ultimately go back to taking decisions by consensus. Nevertheless, I believe it is important to have unity and discussions on key issues," noted Plakolm.

According to her, EU risks losing its credibility in the Western Balkans if it continues to apply the current approach, with the area "becoming a toy of other geopolitical forces".

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