For the first time after France’s veto in October, foreign ministers of EU member states will revisit the topic of enlargement to the Western Balkans and accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania. The General Affairs Council (GAC) is not to bring forward any conclusions today, but exchange of views among members states and an […]
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 […]
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, […]
“North Macedonia and Albania have delivered – now it’s high time that member states deliver, too! Thank you to EU leaders for making this strong stance for opening accession negotiations with both countries in October,” tweeted EU-Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn on Sunday. #NorthMacedonia and #Albania have delivered – now it’s […]
North Macedonia deserves start of EU accession negotiations right now, this moment, today, said Slovenian Ambassador Milan Jazbec. At the upcoming EU Summit, Slovenia will give direct support for start of EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia, and Slovenia’s Prime Minister Marjan Šarec will reaffirm support next week during his official visit to the country […]
Messages of support that North Macedonia deserves and should get a positive EU decision in October were voiced at Tuesday’s meetings of Prime MinisterZoran Zaev with MEPs Dimitris Papadimoulis and Guy Verhofstadt, and former European Parliament President Martin Schulz. At he meeting with MEP Papadimoulis, who also serves as EP’s Vice-President, the two officials concluded […]
Slovenia will continue to strongly support North Macedonia during its EU integration through sharing experiences, knowledge, and expertise in the process, Slovenia’s Ambassador Milan Jazbec said today at the Mother Teresa University in Skopje. “Two weeks before the meeting of the EU council,” Ambassador Jazbec said, “I have to say that Slovenia strongly supports your […]
I believe that the good news for starting negotiations with the European Union will have a positive impact on the entire region and the European Union and that the progress of the reforms in solving the problems will be acknowledged. The region is changed, it strives and creates conditions for further development and integration, Prime […]
Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said that Skopje and Tirana should be assessed independently when it comes to opening EU accession talks. “I believe that North Macedonia and Albania should be assessed independently because they are different countries with different problems and different degrees of progress. I’ve also indicated earlier that I think the rate […]
Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and leader of a nationalist party, Krassimir Karakachanov, has thrown cold water on support for the Republic of North Macedonia’s hopes of EU accession. Statements by Karakachanov, leader of the nationalist VMRO party, came in response to reported comments by the President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, about historical figure Gotse […]
Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov expects France to support North Macedonia for a date to start EU accession talks. “I honestly can’t believe that one of the greatest leaders of Europe would make such a strategic mistake. You can’t expect Europeization of the Balkans without encouraging positive trends. I think we’ll have France’s support,” Dimitrov told […]
Opening EU accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia would be the wisest decision by the EU, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said in his address at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly. “Providing a positive response to Albania and North Macedonia’s ambition to open accession talks will not merely be a reward […]
German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) reports that North Macedonia will receive a “full green light” for the start of accession negotiations, while the Bundestag will give a “dark green” light to Albania. According to the newspaper, the decision of the Bundestag of North Macedonia will grant the start of negotiations without additional conditions, […]
The United States is hopeful that North Macedonia will get the opening of the accession negotiations following the European Council meeting on Oct. 16, new U.S. Special Envoy to the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer said in an interview with Voice of America. “We believe that the government in North Macedonia has cleared that bar many […]
North Macedonia has already done its share, and now EU leaders should do their share, President of the European Council Donald Tusk said at the joint press conference with PM Zoran Zaev. “Skopje is the best possible place where I would like to appeal to the leaders of the European Union: Now you do your […]
President Stevo Pendarovski met Tuesday with the President of the European Council Donald Tusk, who pays a visit to North Macedonia and exchanged views on overall situation in the country and the region as well as the country’s EU membership aspiration. Pendarovski said that North Macedonia has made tough decisions on many sensitive issues over […]
After ten European Commission recommendations that we are ready to start accession negotiations, we expect a positive decision, Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov said at a strategic conference in Bled, Slovenia, which concluded its works. Dimitrov said accelerated European integration of northern Macedonia and the region into the EU is necessary. The chief of diplomacy of […]
I’m optimistic about a compromise on the public prosecution law, which is going to be passed after all political parties have reached a consensus, said Deputy Prime Minister Bujar Osmani. “I believe that differences between the main political parties of the Macedonian bloc aren’t insurmountable,” the Deputy PM in charge of EU affairs said in […]
European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, in an interview with Austrian daily Standard, says that it’s no secret that EU members view North Macedonia more favorably than Albania when it comes to opening accession talks. “We are still working on getting both states to negotiate,” Hahn told the paper. “But it is no […]
EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn arrived to North Macedonia on an official visit. Today, Hahn and Prime Minister Zoran Zaev held a joint press conference where they discussed the implementation of reforms, current events in the country, North Macedonia’s date for accession negotiations in October, etc. -The Republic of North Macedonia deserves the expected green […]
