German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday said he hoped Western Balkan states would keep making progress towards European Union membership, as he hosted leaders from the region for a summit in the German capital.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday welcomed the leaders of the six Western Balkan states to a Berlin summit aimed at forging closer ties between those nations and the European Union.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and representatives from nine EU states and international organizations were also taking part in the talks.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday celebrated what he called the "spirit of Berlin" ahead of a summit of leaders from the Western Balkans focused on forging closer ties with the European Union. The meeting - known as the Berlin process - has been held annually since 2014,

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is also due to attend the meeting as head of the EU Council. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to host leaders of six Western Balkan states in Berlin on Monday for a summit aimed at building closer ties with the European Union.