EU postponed Albania's negotiations start for another year

The member countries agreed to pave the way for Albania and Macedonia towards opening talks in June 2019. In June 2019, member states will assess, based on the European Commission's report, Albania's further progress in the implementation of the Justice Reform, the fight against corruption and organised crime” is determined in the decision made this evening, stressing that the possible “key to talks with the first government conference in June 2019 and the opening of negotiating chapters by the end of 2019 will have to be received the imamation of member states”.

Today's decision came after lengthy debates among member states at the Council of General Affairs, which met in Luxembourg, where some countries called for the short-term delay of the process. At the conclusion of the first part of the meeting, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said that “has two groupings. One representing the majority, with 25 countries supporting the opening of talks until the summer of 2019, and three other countries -- France, Denmark and the Netherlands -- which think we should postpone the whole process. But to postpone this European process means to postpone the stability and security of the entire region”, he said, transfer VOA to Albanian.

France's attitude has been influenced by a number of factors. On one hand are those related to the domestic situation, as nearly half the French political forces and the vast majority of public opinion oppose the idea of enlargement. On the other hand, President Emmanuel Macron's idea, declared a target on his part, is that of reforming the EU itself before its expansion. But the Greek Foreign Minister said that “I know there are countries that fear populism, but cannot fight it and win it against populism by taking steps after”, he said, adding that “can go parallel with enlargement as well as reforming the EU”.

Before the start of the meeting, Dutch Foreign Minister Stephen Block reiterated his country's reluctant stance. The two countries have made progress, but not enough, concrete results are needed for corruption. The important thing is that both countries have shown persistence in fighting corruption, but we need to see more. We support the progress they have made but cannot ignore the fact that we have to see concrete results”, he said.

For its part, Germany said in favour of opening membership talks with the European Union with Albania and Macedonia and calls on France and the Netherlands to join the rest of the member states that share the same stance. “Democracy and lasting peace in the Western Balkans play an important role for all of us in the EU, that is why we highly appreciate the efforts of both states to strengthen the rule of law, fight corruption”, said Mr. Roth, adding that the German “government is ready to support Albania and Macedonia on the road towards the EU, we are ready to give the green light and I want to encourage our Dutch and French friends to join us<3>

Calls to member states in favour of opening the talks were conducted today, and 11 Eurobonds, reactors and leaders of European Parliament delegations for relations with the six Western Balkan countries. “We urge European leaders to prove their clear commitment to the European perspective of the entire Balkan region by adopting the opening of membership talks with Tirana and Skopje”, written in European Council President Donald Tusk's letter. Noting that the two countries' “have met the required conditions, as the European Commission and European Parliament” underlines stress that “The EU must remain a reliable partner. The future of the Western Balkans is related to the EU, and the European Union should not disappoint”.