Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias was in North Macedonia today on his first visit, in order to actively support the country’s European prospects. Amid uncertainty caused by the French “veto” in North Macedonia’s and Albania’s accession negotiations, Nikos Dendias will be welcomed by President Stevo Pendarovski and Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, while he […]
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 […]
Tytti Tuppurainen, Finnish Minister for European Affairs, said the French proposal for reforms in the enlargement process will not be discussed at today’s meeting of the General Affairs Council. “It is quite far reaching and today at General Affairs Council we will not discuss the French initiative. We will come back to the enlargement policy […]
The Government of the Republic of North Macedonia finds the renewed approach in the EU enlargement process promoted by France, in which rule of law and fundamental rights remain an integral requirement while reversibility of the negotiating process a key aspect, worth saluting since “any idea that contributes to the faster start of North Macedonia’s […]
United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian have expressed their support to North Macedonia’s EU accession. “Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Le Drian exchanged views on the importance of EU accession for North Macedonia and Albania, on support for Ukraine, and on holding Iran accountable for its ongoing […]
North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski received guarantees from French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that the new negotiating methodology would be adopted by March at the latest, whereas subsequent developments depended on political decisions. “I am a moderate optimist, not a radical one. We did not get a 100-percent guarantee from President Macron that the Zagreb summit […]
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 […]
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 […]
We think there’s no alternative to full-fledged EU membership, and we’ve been reiterating this for a long time, VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski said yesterday. “We’ve said it before, but Macedonia should use every chance it gets to improve the quality of living standards for the citizens, however it should be done through bilateral agreements,” Mickoski […]
North Macedonia and the entire region have no other alternative but European Union membership, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Sunday at a news conference in Ohrid after the second meeting as part of the regional cooperation initiative. “Almost two days ago, we were all in Geneva where we had the chance to learn from France’s […]
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 […]
French Ambassador to Serbia Jean-Louis Falconi said his country had “no reserves” regarding the EU accession of Western Balkan countries, adding that certain criteria must be fulfilled. “On the issue of opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, I must say these countries have made exceptional efforts, especially with the signing of the Prespa […]
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, […]
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 […]
EP President David Sassoli arrived for an official visit to the country on Monday. At the opening of the Europe House in Skopje, Sassoli said “the future is in your hands and ours. We shouldn’t lose hope. The European Union should help North Macedonia become a member state and participate in building a new Europe”. […]
The new President of the European Parliament David Sassoli is set to visit North Macedonia on Monday. In an interview with MIA Sassoli says that the blocking of the EU accession talks has made the issue far more alive and present in the public opinion. According to him, the French veto is only a small […]
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 […]
