TIRANA – The European Union will start membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, according to a draft unanimous decision by the bloc’s 27 member states, which was seen by Reuters on Monday and is expected to be finalized this week.
The two Western Balkan hopefuls had seen their hopes dashed repeatedly in recent years as France and the Netherlands sounded skepticism over their track records on democracy and fighting corruption, fearful of allowing new members in at a time when the bloc’s cohesion was already damaged by Brexit.
But Paris and The Hague have eased their objections in recent weeks and the push gained momentum despite Europe taking over from China as the world’s most severe coronavirus outbreak this month.
Greece was still not on board before the weekend with the decision, which requires unanimity of all EU members, but diplomatic sources said Athens has given its approval after the latest draft included stronger language on protecting national minorities in Albania.
Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias stressed that “Greece’s hope and volition is for the March European Council meeting to set a date for the start of EU accession negotiations for both North Macedonia and Albania,” speaking after the end of the High-Level Conference on the European Perspective of the Western Balkans, held in Thessaloniki on February 24 this year. On the protection of the rights and property of the Greek ethnic minority in Albania, Dendias said this concerns the neighboring country’s compliance with the hard core of the European acquis and is also an issue of bilateral relations, reported ANA news agency. The minister finally said that the meeting of February 24 essentially paved the way for the EU-Western Balkans summit, to be held in Zagreb on May 5-7.
If no EU country objects, the decision on the start of the membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia is expected to be formally approved and announced as early as a General Affairs Council scheduled for March 24, 2020./argumentum.al
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