Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic told German media outlet that the Western Balkan countries have no other choice but the European Union and that the integration process should speed up.

The more the EU hesitates, the more world regions it leaves to China, Russia or Turkey, he told the German magazine Focus.

The EU must understand that this is not only about enlargement but about the fact that the Western Balkans is European territory, he said.

“Western Balkan countries are surrounded by EU members, they have nowhere else to go. That is why we should step up the integration process,” he said, but noted that Serbia has to decide where it belongs.

“You cannot sit on two chairs, pretending to be a good guy when holding talks in the EU while promoting economic and historical ties with Russia,” said Plenković.