Numerous humanitarian actions have been taken in North Macedonia to collect aid for residents affected by the devastating earthquake in some areas of Albania. The government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, at an extraordinary meeting, has allocated a fund of 100,000 euros, while more than 100,000 have been allocated from municipalities and the Red Cross, […]
Rescue workers from Albania and neighbouring countries continued their efforts to reach survivors trapped in the rubble of buildings that collapsed in an earthquake that killed at least 28 people a day earlier. Twelve of the deaths occurred in Durres, a port and resort on Albania’s Adriatic coast, while 16 other people died in the […]
At least 20 people have been confirmed dead following a powerful earthquake in Albania, which brought down buildings in the capital Tirana and the port city of Durres. The Defence Ministry released the updated death toll late Tuesday, while government agencies spoke of at least 600 injured, the TV Klan broadcaster reported. Many people were […]
Rescue teams and companies based in the region of Struga and Ohrid, western North Macedonia, have been already dispatched to Albania to help after the devastating earthquake, whereas teams of doctors are waiting for instructions where to help, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has stated. “As early as this morning, our country decided to send assistance […]
European Parliament President David Sassoli pointed out in an answer to a reporter’s question, blocking of the start of North Macedonia and Albania’s accession talks as an example why EU rules need to change. The European Parliament is considering implementing reforms in several aspects of EU’s decision-making process, such as the right to veto, Parliament’s […]
Outgoing Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, addressed yesterday journalists about the Balkan mini-Schengen, which he called a “Belgrade-based Russian and Chinese influence”. He said that the mini-Schengen is not in Kosovo’s interest and has nothing to do with the visa liberalization process. Haradinaj said that mini-Schengen is just an expansion, to which Serbian President […]
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 […]
In an interview with Financial Times, outgoing EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn reiterated his disappointment that EU member states failed to agree that North Macedonia and Albania should be given the green light to start EU accession talks. According to Hahn, the failure came exactly at a time when the EU should have really reinforced its […]
Hungarian Olivér Várhely, who is the Commissioner-designate for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, for two an a half hours on Thursday was speaking at a hearing where MEPs had to test his general competences to do his job in the coming five years. In his opening remarks, Várhely said he would do his best to convince the […]
The initiative promoted in Ohrid and Novi Sad in relation to the so-called ‘mini-Schengen’ is a developing story that should be considered, said Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperating Council (RCC). “Regional cooperation becomes meaningful once the final end is EU integration. As enlargement is about connecting markets and people, we believe every […]
The Western Balkans ‘mini-Schengen’ initiative should be seen through the prism of the French veto of the enlargement of the EU summit, analysts warn. The announcements of economic convergence and facilitation of movement and procedures in the region are not disputed, but the political implications of the project raise concerns. “Regional linkages have never been […]
Open letter is signed by ten former Prime Ministers, Deputy Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of the EU and the Balkans calling on the European Union leadership not to delay the start of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. The letter highlights the risks to security and stability in the Western Balkans from the […]
German Ambassador to Skopje Thomas Gerberich said the reason for the delay in the start of accession negotiations did not lie in North Macedonia and Albania but in enlargement skepticism. Ambassador Gerberich told conference “Transition of Legal Systems: 30 years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall” at the Skopje-based Faculty of Law that the […]
Outgoing EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, addressed the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday. Debate was mainly focused on the Western Balkans. The enlargement commissioner once again voiced regret that EU member states failed to reach consensus in October to open accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania […]
The European Parliament supports the enlargement policy and Montenegro should continue on the right path of implementing reforms, in order to become the next member of the EU, Chief Negotiator Aleksandar Drljević and European Parliament Rapporteur for Montenegro Tonino Picula noted. During his visit to Brussels, the Chief Negotiator met with the new EP Rapporteur for Montenegro, […]
The European Council informs that EU enlargement will be formally included in the agenda of the General Affairs Council (GAC) in Brussels on November 19. Ministers of EU members supporting the enlargement insisted on revisiting the topic as soon as possible, but no conclusions should be expected from the meeting, only discussions on the state […]
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was on an official visit to Rome on Thursday, where he met with his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte. At the meeting of the two men, which took place in a very good climate, bilateral issues were discussed, both for the deepening of economic cooperation between the two countries and for […]
We are against those who want to decouple the two countries, those that never gained momentum or numerical majority in the European Council, said Greek Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis. Varvitsiotis briefed members of the Parliament’s European Affairs Committee on issues related to the Union and conclusions of the recent Council summit. Regarding […]
The initiative for the return of the issue of the start of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia to the European Council’s agenda announced the leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Iratxe Garcia, in a televised interview. When the EU fails to deliver on its promises it […]
The invitation to join the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) has been addressed to Albania and North Macedonia by Russia’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, during the Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona, Italy on Friday. Albania and North Macedonia will find understanding sooner within the EEU than in the EU, the Russian diplomat noted. […]
