UN expresses disappointment with not opening negotiations for Albania, Macedonia

In Reaction The UN expresses disappointment that the European Council did not recognise the efforts for the strong reforms of each country through a decision to open membership negotiations now.

A positive decision would have reaffirmed the credibility of their path to the EU and would have strongly opposed malicious foreign actors, who seek to undermine Western values and the Euro-Atlantic community. We know the fact that the European Council did not tell either Albania or Northern Macedonia, nor did it specify new conditions for opening negotiations for membership”, said the UN response.

“Hopefully the European Council will reach consensus on a positive decision for the two countries ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit next May”, the UN statement said next year.

On the other hand, the United States stresses that “will remain a strategic partner of northern Macedonia and Albania as they continue to work to strengthen rule of law, advance anti-corruption efforts, develop their economies and fight organised crime”.

The “encourage both countries to remain steadfast in building transparent societies based on rules and democratic ones that respond to the needs of citizens. The United States will continue to work with European partners to advance common stability and security goals in the Western Balkans”, said at the end of the UN response.