Baerbock discusses EU rapprochement with Western Balkan countries.

Berlin (dpa) - Against the backdrop of continuing tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is today talking to the foreign ministers of the six Western Balkan states about their prospects of further rapprochement with the EU. The talks at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin are likely to focus on approval of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (Cefta), which aims to remove barriers to trade. So far the agreement has been blocked by a dispute between Kosovo and Serbia over status issues. The meeting in the Berlin Process format is intended as preparation for a leaders’ summit in Berlin on 14 October. The Berlin Process is designed to bring the six countries into line with the standards, norms and practices of the EU.