Romania opposes ‘decoupling’ Albania-North Macedonia EU path

Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Auresku has said that Bucharest would not support the decoupling of North Macedonia and Albania on the EU accession path, reported MIA news agency.
“There are no talks on the division of Northern Macedonia and Albania. We do not support this division. It is important to find a solution as soon as possible to start negotiations with both countries together,” Aurescu told a joint news conference with his North Macedonian counterpart, Bujar Osmani, in Skopje on Thursday.
Aurescu said Romania is a strong supporter of North Macedonia’s EU membership and at the same time it is working closely on much more complex issues.
For his part Osmani said that the decision to divide Skopje and Tirana belongs to the member states and if they reach a consensus, Albania should start negotiations.
“I said in advance that it is not in the long-term interest for Albania to be separated from us in this way. So if we help each other at least up to one stage of the process while the political criteria are key, in the long run a synergy will be created that moves the whole process forward. It is understood that Albania has the right to raise its voice to say that it has met all the criteria and it is hostage to the file of another country. However, I am aware that Albania also shares the opinion that in the long run this does not suit it and many member states estimate that this would worsen the regional dynamics if this happens,” said Osmani.
According to him, there is no signal from any member state which would prefer separation from the package.
Albanian PM Edi Rama warned during a recent visit to Berlin that he would seek the decoupling of Tirana and Skopje on the road to the EU if North Macedonia does not resolve the issue with Bulgaria by June. /argumentum.al