The need for “Albania’s reform efforts” in recent years to be “rewarded” was proposed by Olaf Solz in his speech to the Bundestag where he referred, among other things, to the integration of new members into the European Union.

“When a country has gone through extensive reforms, such as e.g. in the case of Albania, this must be recognized, otherwise there is a risk of far-reaching consequences in the overall enlargement process, which we cannot allow,” he said.

Mr. Scholz also stated that Germany strongly supports the start of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, as well as with Georgia, while expressing his displeasure at the delay in the Western Balkans accession process. “It is time for us all to see the big picture – and this applies both to the candidate countries and to the EU member states,” he said characteristically and advocated the acceleration of accession procedures and decision-making by qualified majority, even in the context of the accession process.

Referring to the constitutional changes in North Macedonia, he asked for the help of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU), which he said could exert its influence on its sister party there.

For the German budget

At the same time, Olaf Solz spoke about “good democratic compromise», speaking from the floor of Parliament to the agreement of the government partners in order to fill the funding gap of 17 billion euros in the 2024 budget. The leader of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) Friedrich Mertz spoke of “fiscal gimmicks” and a “government crisis”, predicted a new budget overrun next year and called on the chancellor to ask again in January for a vote of confidence by the parliamentarians.

“The issue is always the consequences of the historical turning point (ie the war in Ukraine) and how we can guarantee the security of Germany and Europe in troubled times,” Mr Scholz said.

Objections from Mertz

Taking the floor immediately after, the leader of the CDU Friedrich Mertz rejected the chancellor’s claim about “good compromise” and “coordinated process” and spoke of “types of compromise” between government partners, with the aim of settling a real government crisis. “This is a budget gimmick,” he said and predicted that “the chancellor’s willingness to increase, if necessary, aid to Ukraine shows that the emergency will come.”

Mr. Mertz also raised a question of parliamentary confidence and called the chancellor to request the Parliament’s vote again in January. “If you don’t, next year will start exactly as chaotically as 2023 ends, and this Germany, people, business can no longer take. The country has reached the limits of its powers and it is up to you to stop it,” he declared in a strong tone.