The EU Commission has confirmed its recommendation to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia. An updated assessment shows that the two Western Balkans countries have „stepped up their work in implementing reforms and delivered more tangible and sustainable results“, said EU enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi today.
Paris is still waiting
The Commission hopes that member states will soon approve the start of accession talks. A decision by the member states was postponed for the third time in October under pressure from French President Emmanuel Macron.
Paris is now satisfied with changes to the EU Commission’s accession process, but made its decision dependent on the agency’s updated assessment of both countries.
The 27 member states must unanimously decide to open accession talks. The issue will be on the agenda of the European Ministers of the Member States on March 24th. The start of the accession talks is just the beginning of a process that took years. Only if the countries concerned gradually implement the required requirements and reforms can they ultimately become members of the European Union.
