European Parliament President David Sassoli pointed out in an answer to a reporter’s question, blocking of the start of North Macedonia and Albania’s accession talks as an example why EU rules need to change. The European Parliament is considering implementing reforms in several aspects of EU’s decision-making process, such as the right to veto, Parliament’s …
France insists the EU should not, at this stage, greenlight the start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, a French diplomatic source said, speaking to the state-run North Macedonian News Agency MIA. The decision on whether or not to start accession negotiations with these two countries is expected to be taken during the …
France ‘torpedoes’ EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia, Albania Read More »
President of France Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met on Sunday evening in Paris to have a working dinner and to discuss, amongst other things, the opening of EU negotiations with North Macedonia. Start of accession talks has been already approved by the Bundestag recently. Macron and Merkel’s working dinner is mainly focused …
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the President of France Emmanuel Macron are set to meet on Sunday, which diplomats see as the last chance to convince Paris to change its position on blocking the start of EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania. “We hope Paris will reconsider its position and not allow being …
Merkel’s last chance to convince Macron not to block N.Macedonia and Albania Read More »
The Committee on European Affairs of the Dutch Parliament agreed Tuesday that Albania and North Macedonia’s European prospects should be discussed separately at the meeting of the Council of Ministers in Luxembourg October 15, before the European Council makes a final decision October 18. Foreign Minister Stef Blok reiterated the government’s attitude that starting negotiations …
Dutch Parliament in favor of separating North Macedonia and Albania, but won’t veto Read More »
Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva announced on October 9 some of the conditions that Sofia is putting to Skopje to support the Republic of North Macedonia in its bid for starting European Union membership negotiations. The points touch on various parts of history that have been highly sensitive for decades, and …
Sofia conditions for North Macedonia’s EU bid: No ‘Bulgarian fascist occupiers’ Read More »
All top state officials, including myself, the prime minister and the foreign minister, have always said that both countries need to start EU negotiations, President Stevo Pendarovski said Tuesday after it was reported that the Netherlands today will define its position on the matter. According to a Reuters report published this past weekend, Germany proposes …
Pendarovski: We did everything that was asked from us, North Macedonia delivered Read More »
Austria’s clear message of support for EU enlargement and North Macedonia’s EU integration aspirations was conveyed Monday at a meeting of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev with the Austrian Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Alexander Schallenberg. Austria has an overwhelming consensus regarding a positive decision for North Macedonia at the October European Council …
Schallenberg: Austria supports North Macedonia’s EU integration aspirations Read More »
North Macedonia and Albania deserve to open EU membership negotiations, outgoing EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said in an interview with the Montenegrin daily Vijesti. Hahn said North Macedonia has made significant progress, and the most important is the signing of the Prespa Agreement and the resolution of the dispute with Greece. “The Prespa Agreement …
Hahn: North Macedonia and Albania deserve to open EU negotiations Read More »
North Macedonia could receive a date for the start of negotiations in the fall, while this scenario is less realistic for Albania, said former MEP Eduard Kukan. “North Macedonia has been meeting the criteria for years, but the Union has been postponing the opening of accession negotiations, which is absolutely embarrassing and demotivating,” says Kukan …
Kukan: North Macedonia could receive a date for the start of negotiations in the fall Read More »
German Ambassador to Serbia Thomas Schieb hopes that the date for the start of North Macedonia’s EU accession negotiations will be known very soon. “Because of intensive harmonization, in Germany among others, the decision for the start of the negotiations has been delayed until October. Germany welcomes the great statesmanship achievement of North Macedonia and …
Ambassador Schieb: North Macedonia’s EU accession negotiations will be known very soon Read More »
German government spokesman Stefan Zibert in a statement for Nezavisen Vesnik/ Independent Daily newspaper said that Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel will do everything in her power to make the Bundestag make the “right decision” over the European Commission’s recommendation to start accession negotiations with North Macedonia, but that he cannot specify which week or month …
Berlin will make the “right decision” over the date Read More »
Postponing the start of the accession negotiation was unfair for your country, because everyone was aware of the schedule and there was enough time for preparation. I find the argument about the lack of time as ridiculous, because you have been a candidate country for 14 years and this is enough time, said Hungarian Foreign …
Postponing start of accession negotiations was unfair, says Hungarian FM Szijjarto Read More »
The divisions in Europe and the interests of the countries that formed the EU are the main reason for the decision to postpone the date for accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania. This is the general assessment of many diplomats in the main European capitals, including officials in the European Union for the (un)expected …
The conclusions of the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg strongly and undeniably acknowledged North Macedonia’s achievements over the past year, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said in a Facebook post. The prime minister also pointed out the agreements with Greece and Bulgaria received high praise, and the ongoing reforms in the country were also clearly recognized. …
Zaev: Today’s conclusion will turn into complete success in October Read More »
The enlargement fatigue the European Union has mentioned is also felt by North Macedonia, said North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski in Brussels. Taking part in a conference organized by the Friends of Europe think tank, President Pendarovski said North Macedonia was a record-holder in waiting for accession talks with the EU. “The enlargement fatigue is …
