In Germany, there is a call for the swift accession of new countries to the EU. Berlin and Brussels should actively pursue the expansion of the bloc for both political and economic reasons.

This was stated by the chairman of the Eastern Committee of German Business, Philipp Hausmann, as reported by Neuen Osnabrücker Zeitung.

"For political and economic reasons, we must approach EU expansion very actively. More than ten years after Croatia's accession in 2013, the EU should finally be ready and willing to accept new members. However, we should not compromise on issues such as the rule of law or fighting corruption, which are crucial for the single market," he said.

Hausmann emphasized that the long-standing deadlock for Western Balkan countries undermines trust in the EU, plays into the hands of other geopolitical players, and ultimately slows down economic development in Europe.

"Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo are part of Europe. We believe that a single economic area is necessary. It is unclear how it will be organized in detail, such as possible transitional periods," he said.

According to him, EU enlargement is not a threat to Russia but an opportunity to create a large free trade area in Europe.

"Unfortunately, today we are very far from this due to Russia's war against Ukraine," Hausmann said.

The Eastern Committee of German Business (OAK) is an association representing the interests of German businesses in 29 countries in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia.