Merkel told reporters that the EU's present role in the region was much deeper that membership talks, citing financial assistance, the involvement of EU troops in the peace missions in Bosnia and Kosovo, and support for economic development projects.
The issue of full membership is not an urgent issue at the moment, what is important is political stabilisation, she said, adding that with the exception of Croatia, which started accession talks last year, this applied to the entire region.
Merkel and Jansa said they supported the Western Balkans' prospects for EU membership.
The European perspective is a basis for a lasting solution to crisis spots in the Balkans, Merkel said, noting that Germany supported this perspective in principle.