Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that at present the EU enlargement process is sidelined, while the EU agenda is formed by the narrow political interests of certain circles and countries.

This was stated by Cavusoglu in his address to the summit of the Open Balkan Initiative in Belgrade, attended by representatives of Serbia, Albania, Northern Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Hungary, reports Anadolu.

He noted that enlargement was once one of the EU's most successful political initiatives.

"The modern EU has closed itself in on itself, and narrow political interests have absorbed the enlargement agenda. No one, for example, can clearly explain why Albania and North Macedonia are waiting so long to join the EU," Cavusoglu said.

He also touched on the situation around Ukraine. "This is a wake-up call. We have witnessed how sensitive the world is to various shockwaves. Winter is coming. A common problem has emerged, energy and food security. We have no choice but to cooperate. Turkey will continue to fulfill all its obligations within the framework of the grain agreement concluded in Istanbul. We are also doing our best to help our neighbors in the Balkans meet their gas needs in winter. The war has once again demonstrated the importance of joint investments in renewable energy and the integration of electricity and gas markets," Cavusoglu said.