EU: Accession talks with Skopje, additional conditions for Tirana

NEWS 24.03.202013:35
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The European Union foreign ministers reached “a political agreement “ on Wednesday to, without a specific date yet, start accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, the Beta news agency reported.

However, Tirana was asked to additionally show the results in the rule of law, suppression of corruption and organised crime, and to fix the election regulations and legislation.

The information came from the European officials who monitored video conference of the EU ministers.

The political green light for the expected decision on accession negotiations with Skopje and Tirana should be given by the EU heads of state and prime ministers in the meeting by the end of the week.

Some European media reported that the final agreement was reached on Tuesday night after France, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany added new elements into the proposal which should be adopted at the bloc’s summit.

The agreed conclusions include the views about a new methodology for the Western Balkans negotiating process.

That means to simultaneously empower and reshape the EU decision-making process to enable the bloc to accept new member states. After the agreement reached in video conference was confirmed in written form, it would be sent to the EU summit for approval.

Then, the European Commission should prepare the framework for negotiations with Skopje and Tirana when the date for the beginning should be set for North Macedonia and conditionally for Albania.

Finally, the EU Summit in Zagreb in May should confirm the decision, but it remained uncertain if it would take place due to the coronavirus pandemic.