German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said that the negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia for EU membership should start as soon as possible and that any delay would make the Balkan countries unprotected from external influences. 

During a conference held after meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson, he also spoke about the situation in the Western Balkans. 

"Negotiations for the membership of Albania and Northern Macedonia in the European Union should start as soon as possible because any delay will make the countries of the Western Balkans vulnerable to external influences," he said.