North Macedonia and Albania should get a date for accession negotiations. It would be a historic mistake if we did not let them launch the talks and a tough blow for the people of the two countries that deserve to be given a European perspective, said Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov ahead of the European […]
France blocked the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia despite the promise made by the EU to Skopje that its historic name deal with Greece would earn it a ticket to EU membership negotiations, wrote media network Euractiv. Following EU ministers’ call to postpone the decision for October, this meeting was seen as make-or-break, […]
The European Union risks losing its influence in the Western Balkans if it fails to send a clear signal for the start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn told Austrian news agency APA. “If we do not send a clear signal today or […]
Misinformation is used to depict NATO membership as something that is not good for the country. Big players try to convince people that the country is not on the right track, says Zoran Jankovic, Chief of NATO Liaison Office in Skopje, in an interview with Radio Free Europe. As for the possibility of North Macedonia […]
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the President of France Emmanuel Macron are set to meet on Sunday, which diplomats see as the last chance to convince Paris to change its position on blocking the start of EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania. “We hope Paris will reconsider its position and not allow being […]
Bulgaria’s National Assembly voted on October 10 to approve a framework declaration put forward by the government on the EU accession of the Republic of North Macedonia and of Albania. The declaration had not been on the agenda of the October 10 sitting but was added at the proposal of MP Emil Hristov. It was […]
Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva announced on October 9 some of the conditions that Sofia is putting to Skopje to support the Republic of North Macedonia in its bid for starting European Union membership negotiations. The points touch on various parts of history that have been highly sensitive for decades, and […]
I don’t expect Bulgaria or Greece to block our Euro-Atlantic integration ambitions, in fact, we expect them to advocate for the opening of negotiations with the EU and full-fledged NATO membership, said North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. “We don’t have a plan B if someone resorts to blockade, our plan B is to go […]
The Netherlands is less concerned about North Macedonia and more about Albania regarding the decision to deliver a date for the start of EU accession negotiations this fall, said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte after a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel. PM Rutte was asked about his country’s position on the issue, saying the Netherlands […]
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said Wednesday that Finland’s presidency with the European Union would be remembered by the decision for starting accession negotiations. Foreign Minister Haavisto visited North Macedonia two weeks before the Council of the European Union announces the decision regarding the country’s accession talks start date. “We all witnessed the steps North […]
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 […]
The European Union will undermine its own credibility if it fails to validate North Macedonia’s progress. It would endanger the region’s European perspective and the enlargement process as we know it, Deputy PM for European Affairs Bujar Osmani told The Economist Western Balkans Summit in Skopje on Tuesday. Deputy PM Osmani voiced assurance over a positive […]
We have a date with destiny on October 15, when I hope we will launch the EU accession negotiations. We have been a candidate country for 14 years, we have lost an entire generation, and we needed leadership to realize that things can happen by hard work and struggle, said Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov in […]
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 […]
We have always said that North Macedonia can count on Bulgaria for the EU, but we have never said that we unconditionally support country’s EU accession. The future of North Macedonia is in the EU and they should not miss the opportunity, said Bulgaria’s PM Boyko Borissov following the consultative meeting convened by President Rumen […]
We will do everything to mitigate the consequences of the Prespa Agreement, protect trademarks and, if necessary, play the veto card regarding the EU integration of neighbors, says Greek Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Kostas Karamanlis. “As much as SYRIZA is trying to convince us to the opposite, our position is firm. We would have […]
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 […]
On the sidelines of the 74th UN General Assembly in New York, Prime Minister of North Macedonia Zoran ZAEV spoke exclusively to IBNA about his first meeting with the new Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Prime Minister, how was your first meeting with the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriacos Mitsotakis? For me it is […]
