VIENNA, Austria / EuroWire.IO / – Austria will push for a gradual approach to European Union accession for the Western Balkans when it chairs the Berlin Process in 2027. Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said the model would give countries in the region greater access to the EU single market in return for progress on reforms and the rule of law. The government took note of the chairmanship on November 4.
Meinl-Reisinger described a credible prospect of EU membership for the region as both a security policy necessity and an economic opportunity for Austria. She said the chairmanship reaffirmed Austria’s role as a reliable partner for the Western Balkans on their path to the EU. Austria takes over the chairmanship from Montenegro, which hosted this year’s Leaders’ Summit. Chancellor Christian Stocker called the chairmanship a great honour for Austria.
Austria aims to strengthen regional economic, political and security cooperation during its year in charge. It will focus on the economy, energy, infrastructure and security, which Meinl-Reisinger described as key to stability and development in the region. Stocker said youth, reconciliation and regional cooperation would also be priorities. Austria has repeatedly stressed the importance of the Western Balkans to the EU’s future. Austria’s current government took office in March 2025.
Six countries on the path to the EU
The Berlin Process was launched in 2014 at Germany’s initiative. It aims to bring Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia closer to the EU step by step, by promoting regional cooperation and closer integration in key areas. Five of the six are official EU candidate countries, while Kosovo applied for membership in 2022. Each year a different country chairs the process and hosts a summit of leaders.
Montenegro’s 2026 chairmanship ended with a Leaders’ Summit on October 22 in Miločer, near Budva. Its priorities were strong and inclusive economic growth, competitiveness, security and resilience, and the green and sustainable transition. Montenegro and Albania have made the most progress among the region’s candidates in accession negotiations. Several EU member states, the United Kingdom and EU institutions also take part in the process. The summit is the main annual meeting of the process.
Vienna hosted 2015 summit
Austria last hosted a Berlin Process summit in Vienna in 2015, a year after the initiative began. Other countries that have chaired the process include France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland, Bulgaria, Albania and Germany. The process complements the EU’s formal accession negotiations by encouraging practical cooperation among the six countries in areas such as trade, transport and energy. It has also supported projects to improve connectivity.
The Berlin Process has supported the creation of a Common Regional Market among the six Western Balkan countries. That market was agreed at the Berlin Process summit in Sofia in 2020. International lenders have also expanded support for local businesses, including the OPEC Fund’s first private sector loan in Kosovo. Croatia, a former Yugoslav republic, joined the EU in 2013. Meinl-Reisinger said Austria remained a reliable partner for the region.