Nikos Kotzias undertakes international initiative for the Balkans

Former Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias is undertaking an international initiative on the situation in the Western Balkans, following a decision by the last European Council meeting to postpone setting a date for the start of EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. The former Foreign Minister had meetings with the Slovak Foreign Minister …

Nikos Kotzias undertakes international initiative for the Balkans Read More »

Pendarovski suggests holding regional summit to confirm EU path

North Macedonia, Albania and other countries in the region should continue on the EU path as there is no other alternative, President Stevo Pendarovski said Saturday at a joint news conference with his Albanian counterpart Ilir Meta in Tirana. Stevo Pendarovski suggests the Western Balkans countries to hold an extraordinary summit to discuss EU enlargement …

Pendarovski suggests holding regional summit to confirm EU path Read More »

Kotzias: Greece should take initiative to organize meetings for stability in the Balkans

Greece should take initiative to organize meetings and coordinate with countries sharing the same position on stability in the Balkans regarding North Macedonia’s European perspective, former Greek foreign minister Nikos Kotzias told a conference on progressive foreign policy organized by ENA Institute for Alternative Policies. Participants in the conference discussed aspects of Greek foreign policy, …

Kotzias: Greece should take initiative to organize meetings for stability in the Balkans Read More »

Hahn: The consequences for both countries and the region could be catastrophic

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn again sharply criticized France’s negative position and the refusal of the EU leaders to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, saying the consequences for both countries and the region could be catastrophic. Hahn in the interview with APA news agency said that negative decision of EU leaders …

Hahn: The consequences for both countries and the region could be catastrophic Read More »

European Parliament to put a motion for a resolution on opening accession talks with Skopje and Tirana

The European Parliament is set to put a motion for a resolution on opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania on the agenda of the plenary session on Wednesday. The European Parliament has already agree Skopje and Tirana should open accession negotiations with the EU and a motion for a resolution comes after the …

European Parliament to put a motion for a resolution on opening accession talks with Skopje and Tirana Read More »

Mogherini: Postponing negotiations with Skopje and Tirana is more than a lost opportunity, it’s a historic mistake

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said that the postponing the decision to open negotiations for North Macedonia’s and Albania’s accession to the European Union, it is much more than a lost opportunity: it is a historic mistake. In her blog ‘Two important decisions, one historic mistake’, Mogherini said that the heads of State …

Mogherini: Postponing negotiations with Skopje and Tirana is more than a lost opportunity, it’s a historic mistake Read More »

Europe is playing with fire

EU leaders will review the prospect of EU’s enlargement before the European Union-Western Balkans Summit in Zagreb in May 2020, in line with the conclusions adopted during the EU Summit in Brussels. Once again, the European Union and its leaders failed to rise to the occasion. With the Summit’s decision to postpone one more time …

Europe is playing with fire Read More »

Borissov: EU will make a historic mistake if it doesn’t open negotiations with N.Macedonia and Albania

North Macedonia and Albania should get a date for accession negotiations. It would be a historic mistake if we did not let them launch the talks and a tough blow for the people of the two countries that deserve to be given a European perspective, said Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov ahead of the European …

Borissov: EU will make a historic mistake if it doesn’t open negotiations with N.Macedonia and Albania Read More »

PES President Stanishev urges Tusk to put Enlargement before the European Council on Thursday

President of the Party of European Socialists Sergei Stanishev has written to the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, to urge him to put the issue of accession talks with the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania on the agenda of tomorrow’s European Council meeting. In the letter, Sergei Stanishev said: “Please allow me to …

PES President Stanishev urges Tusk to put Enlargement before the European Council on Thursday Read More »

Euractiv: France blocked the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia despite the promise made

France blocked the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia despite the promise made by the EU to Skopje that its historic name deal with Greece would earn it a ticket to EU membership negotiations, wrote media network Euractiv. Following EU ministers’ call to postpone the decision for October, this meeting was seen as make-or-break, …

Euractiv: France blocked the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia despite the promise made Read More »

EU ministers fail to reach decision on opening accession talks with N. Macedonia and Albania

EU ministers failed to reach a decision approving the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, Finnish EU Affairs Minister Tytti Tuppurainen told a news conference Tuesday in Luxembourg after a meeting of EU foreign ministers. Outgoing EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said that it was not a moment of glory for Europe, …

EU ministers fail to reach decision on opening accession talks with N. Macedonia and Albania Read More »

Hahn: The EU risks losing its influence on the Western Balkans if it doesn’t send a clear signal

The European Union risks losing its influence in the Western Balkans if it fails to send a clear signal for the start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn told Austrian news agency APA. “If we do not send a clear signal today or …

Hahn: The EU risks losing its influence on the Western Balkans if it doesn’t send a clear signal Read More »

Roth: Germany supports opening of accession talks with N.Macedonia and Albania

Germany’s position is crystal clear. We support opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, German Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth said on Tuesday. “Our position is based on the voting of the German Bundestag. The European Union has committed itself to peace, stability, democracy and reconciliation in the Western Balkans, which …

Roth: Germany supports opening of accession talks with N.Macedonia and Albania Read More »

Blok: North Macedonia is more prepared than Albania for EU negotiations

Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok reiterated his country’s position that North Macedonia is more prepared than Albania for the start of EU accession negotiations. Ahead of the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg focusing on the launch of accession negotiations with Skopje and Tirana, Blok said the Netherlands believes each country should be judged …

Blok: North Macedonia is more prepared than Albania for EU negotiations Read More »

Czech, Polish, Slovak and Hungarian foreign ministers urge the EU to start accession talks

In a joint open letter titled “Let’s move forward in the Western Balkans,” the Czech, Polish, Slovak and Hungarian foreign ministers urge the EU to make a bold decision for start of accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania. “As the EU decides whether to start accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, it is …

Czech, Polish, Slovak and Hungarian foreign ministers urge the EU to start accession talks Read More »

France ‘torpedoes’ EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia, Albania

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 »

Merkel’s last chance to convince Macron not to block N.Macedonia and Albania

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 »

Bulgaria’s Parliament approves declaration on conditional support for EU accession talks with N Macedonia, Albania

Bulgaria’s National Assembly voted on October 10 to approve a framework declaration put forward by the government on the EU accession of the Republic of North Macedonia and of Albania. The declaration had not been on the agenda of the October 10 sitting but was added at the proposal of MP Emil Hristov. It was …

Bulgaria’s Parliament approves declaration on conditional support for EU accession talks with N Macedonia, Albania Read More »

Најчитани