Hahn calls on EU member states to start negotiations with North Macedonia

“I can only reiterate that talks should open as soon as possible because they did everything, and this is not a signal only to North Macedonia, but to the entire region,” Hahn said in response to a reporter’s question ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting.

The EU Enlargement Commissioner said a delay in starting negotiations could impact the dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina.

“If we re-open talks with Serbia and Kosovo,” Hahn continued, “they should see that investing into finding political compromises is awarded; otherwise they’ll lose motivation.

“It’s important that people understand how much it matters to give a signal to a country in the interest of the entire region.”

As previously reported, EU draft conclusions have set Sept. 2019 as a date to open negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, but according to Hahn, that’s not soon enough.

“My proposal was that whenever a country delivers, we need to deliver too. That’s why any delay is risky, and I don’t like risks where there’s no need for it,” Hahn said.

Asked to comment on France’s and the Netherlands’ resistance to opening talks with Skopje and Tirana, Hahn said they should bear in mind the regional situation as a whole.

“This country has invested enormously into its European perspective. The leaders showed courage and leadership, and if we don’t reward it, we lose our responsibility, credibility, and influence. All we’ve invested in over the last few years is at stake if we don’t keep our promises,” Hahn said.