Former Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati said that the proposal by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to grant Western Balkan countries observer status in the European Union is an old concept dating back to 2004.
In addition to this proposal for the Western Balkan countries, Merz proposed that Ukraine be given the status of a so-called associate member without voting rights within the EU.
"The privileged observer status for the Western Balkans is an old concept, dating back to the "Big Bang" of 2004. In Ukraine, gradual integration has become a tool for increasing stability in war conditions. Unlike the Western Balkans where the credibility of the membership perspective is what supports rule of law reforms", Bushati wrote. /Express/
Privileged observer status for Western Balkans is an old idea, since 2004 'Big Bang'. In 🇺🇦 gradual integration has become an instrument of resilience under conditions of war. In the Western Balkans, by contrast, the credibility of membership sustains rule of law related reforms. https://t.co/XyIIrmdaq4
— Ditmir Bushati (@ditmirbushati) May 21, 2026
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