Brussels reconfirms: Pro-opening membership talks with Albania

The European Commission has confirmed today its positive recommendation for opening membership talks with Albania.

The Commission has drafted an intermediate report that is expected to serve as a new assessment base for member states at the European Council meeting late this month, with the topic likely to be discussed again for opening membership talks, while the new methodology presented last month will be adopted.

“in light of significant progress achieved and meeting the conditions defined unanimously by the Council in June 2018, the Commission recommended in its 2019 enlargement package that the Council open accession negotiations with Albania. In general, Albania has stepped up its efforts and has had further tangible and sustainable results in key areas identified in the Council's conclusions of June 2018. As a result, the Commission's recommendation bases for 2019 to open accession negotiations with Albania remain valid”, the report confirms.

At the October meeting of the European Council, French President Emmanuel Macron vetoed the hopes of Albania and Northern Macedonia opening membership talks while urging a review of the negotiation process and enlargement itself.

With the drafting of new methodology, France appears ready to give up the deadlock of opening EU membership talks for Albania and Northern Macedonia.

Two weeks ago, at a security conference in Munich, French President Emmanuel Macron linked his country's upcoming decision with the Commission's current report.

Now we all expect in March the Commission's report about the process for both countries. For some, we need to see what the Commission for the expected progress in Albania and Northern Macedonia means on these issues, and depending on that, I consider that in the pre-conditions that I had established, if the results are positive and trust is established, it will be possible to make the decision to open talks”, Macron said.