EU leaders at Balkan summit optimistic about rapid expansion

Article excerpt

At a summit in Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen signaled enthusiasm for accelerating European Union membership for Western Balkan countries. Merz emphasized his commitment to deeper integration of the region into the EU bloc, while Von der Leyen explicitly called for a "faster" enlargement process. The show of optimism represents a shift in EU posture toward expansion, traditionally a contentious issue among member states concerned about integration speeds and standards.