Pendarovski and Macron meet in Paris


After meeting his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday in Paris, North Macedonia’s President Pendarovski said that ‘open and dynamic’ talks took place, but Paris hasn’t yet provided any guarantees about a date for opening of EU negotiations. Macron is asking for more time for the EU to reform itself within. President Pendarovski presented his …

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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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Pendarovski to meet Macron today


North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski who is paying a two-day visit to Paris, attended Monday evening a dinner for the heads of state and government organised by the French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of 2019 Paris Peace Forum. Today, the president will attend Paris Peace Forum and will deliver an address on regional security, his …

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Zaev on Facebook: We agreed in Ohrid on measures to improve movement of people, goods and services through the region


We agreed in Ohrid on measures to improve movement of people, goods and services through the region and ensure a better life for all in a modern and peaceful Balkans, PM Zoran Zaev posted on Facebook Monday morning, following Sunday’s leaders’ meeting on the regional cooperation initiative, known as ‘mini-Schengen’. “Crossing borders using only personal …

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Thaci explains why he refused to attend the Ohrid trilateral meeting


President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci has stated that his country doesn’t want to substitute its Euro-Atlantic perspective with any other regional initiative, Tanjug news agency reports Sunday. In a Facebook post explaining why he refused to attend the Ohrid trilateral meeting, Thaci says that Serbia ‘snubbed Kosovo intentionally’ at the first summit of the new …

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Mickoski: There’s no alternative to full-fledged EU membership


We think there’s no alternative to full-fledged EU membership, and we’ve been reiterating this for a long time, VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski said yesterday. “We’ve said it before, but Macedonia should use every chance it gets to improve the quality of living standards for the citizens, however it should be done through bilateral agreements,” Mickoski …

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Dimitrov-Dendias: Bilateral cooperation in all fields of mutual interest through implementation of the Prespa deal


Bilateral relations, developments in the region and its European perspective following the recent European Council were in the focus of today’s meeting of North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Geneva. The meeting took place at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s “Strategic Dialogue on the Western Balkans …

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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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Dendias to meet with Zaev, Dimitrov and Cavusoglu while in Geneva


Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias will be in Geneva on Friday, November 8, in order to participate in the meeting organized by the World Economic Forum on the Strategic Dialogue for the Western Balkans. The current political and economic challenges and opportunities in the Western Balkans will be addressed during the Summit. Participants …

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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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Falconi: Palmer’s statement of ‘EU’s historic mistake’ is wrong


French Ambassador to Serbia Jean-Louis Falconi said his country had “no reserves” regarding the EU accession of Western Balkan countries, adding that certain criteria must be fulfilled. “On the issue of opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, I must say these countries have made exceptional efforts, especially with the signing of the Prespa …

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New Zaev-Mitsotakis meeting, this time in Thessaloniki


Prime Ministers of North Macedonia and Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Zoran Zaev will have a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of “Thessaloniki Summit 209”, which will be held in Thessaloniki next Thursday and Friday, November 14 and 15. The meeting was officially announced by the Greek Prime Minister’s office. Mitsotakis will also use his participation …

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Zaev: new methodology for EU accession negotiationswould give us a fair chance


The new methodology for EU accession negotiations can be adapted by the first intergovernmental conference, which takes place a few months after the decision to start talks is reached, said Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev. “The new methodology would give us a fair chance. If we succeed, we move forward. If we don’t, …

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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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