Albania hit by a devastating earthquake, North Macedonia to send rescue teams


Rescue teams and companies based in the region of Struga and Ohrid, western North Macedonia, have been already dispatched to Albania to help after the devastating earthquake, whereas teams of doctors are waiting for instructions where to help, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has stated. “As early as this morning, our country decided to send assistance …

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Sassoli: Blocking North Macedonia and Albania’s accession talks as an example why EU rules need to change


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 …

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Haradinaj: Mini-Schengen aims to expand Russian and Chinese influence in the Balkans


Outgoing Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, addressed yesterday journalists about the Balkan mini-Schengen, which he called a “Belgrade-based Russian and Chinese influence”. He said that the mini-Schengen is not in Kosovo’s interest and has nothing to do with the visa liberalization process. Haradinaj said that mini-Schengen is just an expansion, to which Serbian President …

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Hahn for Financial Times: The EU insulted years of Commission’s work by not opening talks with Skopje


In an interview with Financial Times, outgoing EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn reiterated his disappointment that EU member states failed to agree that North Macedonia and Albania should be given the green light to start EU accession talks. According to Hahn, the failure came exactly at a time when the EU should have really reinforced its …

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Bregu: ‘Mini-Schengen’ is a developing story that should be considered


The initiative promoted in Ohrid and Novi Sad in relation to the so-called ‘mini-Schengen’ is a developing story that should be considered, said Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperating Council (RCC). “Regional cooperation becomes meaningful once the final end is EU integration. As enlargement is about connecting markets and people, we believe every …

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“Mini-Schengen” as seen by analysts


The Western Balkans ‘mini-Schengen’ initiative should be seen through the prism of the French veto of the enlargement of the EU summit, analysts warn. The announcements of economic convergence and facilitation of movement and procedures in the region are not disputed, but the political implications of the project raise concerns. “Regional linkages have never been …

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Gerberich: Reason for not starting negotiations didn’t lie in Skopje and Tirana but in enlargement skepticism


German Ambassador to Skopje Thomas Gerberich said the reason for the delay in the start of accession negotiations did not lie in North Macedonia and Albania but in enlargement skepticism. Ambassador Gerberich told conference “Transition of Legal Systems: 30 years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall” at the Skopje-based Faculty of Law that the …

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Hahn: I hope the mistake of not opening talks with North Macedonia and Albania will be reversed


Outgoing EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, addressed the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday. Debate was mainly focused on the Western Balkans. The enlargement commissioner once again voiced regret that EU member states failed to reach consensus in October to open accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania …

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Picula and Drljević: The EU membership for the Balkan countries is important in terms of stability in the region


The European Parliament supports the enlargement policy and Montenegro should continue on the right path of implementing reforms, in order to become the next member of the EU, Chief Negotiator Aleksandar Drljević and European Parliament Rapporteur for Montenegro Tonino Picula noted. During his visit to Brussels, the Chief Negotiator met with the new EP Rapporteur for Montenegro, …

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European Council: EU enlargement will be formally included in the agenda of the General Affairs Council


The European Council informs that EU enlargement will be formally included in the agenda of the General Affairs Council (GAC) in Brussels on November 19. Ministers of EU members supporting the enlargement insisted on revisiting the topic as soon as possible, but no conclusions should be expected from the meeting, only discussions on the state …

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Bilateral relations, EU accession path at the focus of the Conte-Rama meeting


Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was on an official visit to Rome on Thursday, where he met with his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte. At the meeting of the two men, which took place in a very good climate, bilateral issues were discussed, both for the deepening of economic cooperation between the two countries and for …

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Varvitsiotis: We are against decoupling North Macedonia and Albania


We are against those who want to decouple the two countries, those that never gained momentum  or numerical majority in the European Council, said Greek Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis. Varvitsiotis briefed members of the Parliament’s European Affairs Committee on issues related to the Union and conclusions of the recent Council summit. Regarding …

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Garcia: We will bring Albania and North Macedonia to the agenda before Spring


The initiative for the return of the issue of the start of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia to the European Council’s agenda announced the leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Iratxe Garcia, in a televised interview. When the EU fails to deliver on its promises it …

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Russia invites Albania, North Macedonia to join the Eurasian Union


The invitation to join the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) has been addressed to Albania and North Macedonia by Russia’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, during the Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona, Italy on Friday. Albania and North Macedonia will find understanding sooner within the EEU than in the EU, the Russian diplomat noted. …

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