Merkel sees long road for Western Balkan states to EU membership

FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Angela Merkel applauds after the overwhelming vote on a declaration about refugees during the CDU party congress in Karlsruhe, Germany December 14, 2015. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

BELGRADE (Reuters) -Western Balkan states have a long way to go to achieve membership in the European Union but it is Germany's goal that they do, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday.

At a joint news conference in Belgrade with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Merkel said it was in the geostrategic interest of existing EU members that the Western Balkan states join the bloc.