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2 October, 2023
Edicion Special
  • Home
  • OP/ED

    The story of the Ulmas’ martyrdom should be known worldwide

    Triangulation of Eurasia: The North-South Corridor Underreported but pivotal for Our Common Future

    Loose lips sink morale

    Albania and Kosovo: the Leaders, the People, the Narrative

    Offensive defence: How Putin saved NATO

    A decade of Croatian EU membership: Success story of enlargement in the Western Balkans

    Elvin Luku: Fragile democracy in Albania

    French Jean-Dominique Giuliani, President of the Robert Schuman Fondation (a think tank on Europe) speaks during a meeting entitled "Eurozone, what a future" organized by his foundation and dedicated to euro, in Paris on July 18, 2014. 
AFP PHOTO/MIGUEL MEDINA        (Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images)

    Europe is awake, united and more valuable than ever before

    China offers alternatives for modernization

  • Interview

    Exclusive/ The Russian Ambassador to Albania Mr. Mikhail Afanasiev: Russia only aims to end that war started by the West in Ukraine

    Exclusive/ Skopje’s top diplomat to Tirana, Dancho Markovski: OSCE Chairmanship a Project of National Importance for North Macedonia

    Exclusive interview of Croatian Ambassador Zlatko Kramaric: ‘There is progress in Croatian-Albanian relations, but it is still not enough’  

    The first anniversary of the appointment as Archbishop at the head of the Catholic Church/ Mons. Arjan Dodaj: Only God can be the author of our walk!

    Azerbaijan’s Ambassador Anar Huseynov: President Aliyev’s visit to Albania opened a new page in our relations through the specific accords reached

    Macedonian Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski: Open Balkans and Berlin Process are complementary processes for progress of cooperation among WB countries

    Exclusive/ China’s Ambassador to Albania Mr. Zhou Ding: China and Albania must look towards history to build the future!

    Appeal of Ukrainian Ambassador to Albania Shkurov for maximum support of Ukraine with weapons six months after Russian occupation

    Zoran Djukanovic: “The Montenegrin minority in Albania and the Albanian minority in Montenegro to be bridges of communication of our two countries”

  • Realpolitik
    European Council President Charles MICHEL, receives Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market.  Brussels the 12/01/2021.
Le President du Conseil Europeen, Charles MICHEL, recoit Thierry Breton, Commissaire Europeen chargé du marché interieur. .  Bruxelles le 12/01/2021.,Image: 590631817, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Profimedia

    For a new paradigm by the EU and the USA for Kosovo and Serbia after the terrorist attack by serb bands on 24 september.

    Pacifying without reconciliation! Kurti’s autogoal! Between G – 7 and BRICS 11! The Balkans summer theatre continues! A speech for campaign 2024! A prewarned failure!                             

    Marriage spoiled for a lemon! The missed dinner! Sphinx and challenge for the West! Summer theatre in Bled!

    Peace as wishful thinking! Change the course! Brussels bells toll for Tirana!  Beleri between Tirana, Brussels and Athens! Compare the incomparables!  

    A cold shower! Change the tune! Partnership or vassalage? Euro-Atlantist Meloni!

    Open Balkans closed! A failed tour! Right is might! The NATO Ukrainian dilema!

    Balkan’s summer theatre started! China’s and India’s Megachallenge! SOS from Brussels! Support, Sanctions and statements!  

    No “ carrot” for Belgrade and “ stick” for Pristine! An unnecessary draft! Nor did Gjakova unite us!

    G-7 with 5 major messages! Erdoganist Turkey! A historic victory postponned! Much ado about nothing!  

  • Current Events

    Serbia attempted to annex the north of Kosovo, the attackers were trained in Serbian bases, the Kosovo interior minister reveals

    turqi

    Albania condemns terrorist attack in Ankara as PM Rama says Europe should support Turkey more in its fight against terrorism

    Kosovo needs to protect its northern border, increasing cooperation with NATO’s presence and KFOR in the North, says PM Kurti

    ODIHR releases final report on observation mission of Albania’s 2023 local elections

    President Begaj conveys condolences for the passing away of Father Arthur Liolin in Boston

    Albania’s PM argues with Kosovo authorities, reiterating support for his proposal on the control of the north by KFOR

    The trial session for Gërdec is postponed as the former Defense Minister insists on 91 witnesses

    NATO authorizes additional forces for Kosovo

    Assembly of Kosovo approves unanimously Resolution, condemning the Serb terrorist attack on the police

  • Top News

    What Serbia is not achieving through dialogue, it wants to achieve through terrorist attacks, says FP’s Vasili

    Powerful explosion in Ankara near Parliament and other government institutions; outlawed PKK claims responsibility of the attack

    US Embassy in Tirana calls on Albanian prosecutors to apply for 3 vacancies in SPAK

    Attack of the Serbian armed group in North Kosovo was a ‘true military attack’, said Albania’s former Interior Minister

    Germany says it is irritating when Vucic declares the culprits as the victims…

    SPAK is making progress in Albania’s objectives for justice reform, says the US Embassy

    PM Rama urges the EU to condemn Serbia’s declaration of mourning

    Declaration of mourning by Serbia fuels armed conflict threat; EU and US should raise democratic alarm, Albania’s government head said

    Special Court announces sentences for former minister Lefter Koka and his accomplices over Fier incinerator

  • YOUR VOICE
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Argumentum
  • Home
  • OP/ED

    The story of the Ulmas’ martyrdom should be known worldwide

    Triangulation of Eurasia: The North-South Corridor Underreported but pivotal for Our Common Future

    Loose lips sink morale

    Albania and Kosovo: the Leaders, the People, the Narrative

    Offensive defence: How Putin saved NATO

    A decade of Croatian EU membership: Success story of enlargement in the Western Balkans

    Elvin Luku: Fragile democracy in Albania

    French Jean-Dominique Giuliani, President of the Robert Schuman Fondation (a think tank on Europe) speaks during a meeting entitled "Eurozone, what a future" organized by his foundation and dedicated to euro, in Paris on July 18, 2014. 
AFP PHOTO/MIGUEL MEDINA        (Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images)

    Europe is awake, united and more valuable than ever before

    China offers alternatives for modernization

  • Interview

    Exclusive/ The Russian Ambassador to Albania Mr. Mikhail Afanasiev: Russia only aims to end that war started by the West in Ukraine

    Exclusive/ Skopje’s top diplomat to Tirana, Dancho Markovski: OSCE Chairmanship a Project of National Importance for North Macedonia

    Exclusive interview of Croatian Ambassador Zlatko Kramaric: ‘There is progress in Croatian-Albanian relations, but it is still not enough’  

    The first anniversary of the appointment as Archbishop at the head of the Catholic Church/ Mons. Arjan Dodaj: Only God can be the author of our walk!

    Azerbaijan’s Ambassador Anar Huseynov: President Aliyev’s visit to Albania opened a new page in our relations through the specific accords reached

    Macedonian Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski: Open Balkans and Berlin Process are complementary processes for progress of cooperation among WB countries

    Exclusive/ China’s Ambassador to Albania Mr. Zhou Ding: China and Albania must look towards history to build the future!

    Appeal of Ukrainian Ambassador to Albania Shkurov for maximum support of Ukraine with weapons six months after Russian occupation

    Zoran Djukanovic: “The Montenegrin minority in Albania and the Albanian minority in Montenegro to be bridges of communication of our two countries”

  • Realpolitik
    European Council President Charles MICHEL, receives Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market.  Brussels the 12/01/2021.
Le President du Conseil Europeen, Charles MICHEL, recoit Thierry Breton, Commissaire Europeen chargé du marché interieur. .  Bruxelles le 12/01/2021.,Image: 590631817, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Profimedia

    For a new paradigm by the EU and the USA for Kosovo and Serbia after the terrorist attack by serb bands on 24 september.

    Pacifying without reconciliation! Kurti’s autogoal! Between G – 7 and BRICS 11! The Balkans summer theatre continues! A speech for campaign 2024! A prewarned failure!                             

    Marriage spoiled for a lemon! The missed dinner! Sphinx and challenge for the West! Summer theatre in Bled!

    Peace as wishful thinking! Change the course! Brussels bells toll for Tirana!  Beleri between Tirana, Brussels and Athens! Compare the incomparables!  

    A cold shower! Change the tune! Partnership or vassalage? Euro-Atlantist Meloni!

    Open Balkans closed! A failed tour! Right is might! The NATO Ukrainian dilema!

    Balkan’s summer theatre started! China’s and India’s Megachallenge! SOS from Brussels! Support, Sanctions and statements!  

    No “ carrot” for Belgrade and “ stick” for Pristine! An unnecessary draft! Nor did Gjakova unite us!

    G-7 with 5 major messages! Erdoganist Turkey! A historic victory postponned! Much ado about nothing!  

  • Current Events

    Serbia attempted to annex the north of Kosovo, the attackers were trained in Serbian bases, the Kosovo interior minister reveals

    turqi

    Albania condemns terrorist attack in Ankara as PM Rama says Europe should support Turkey more in its fight against terrorism

    Kosovo needs to protect its northern border, increasing cooperation with NATO’s presence and KFOR in the North, says PM Kurti

    ODIHR releases final report on observation mission of Albania’s 2023 local elections

    President Begaj conveys condolences for the passing away of Father Arthur Liolin in Boston

    Albania’s PM argues with Kosovo authorities, reiterating support for his proposal on the control of the north by KFOR

    The trial session for Gërdec is postponed as the former Defense Minister insists on 91 witnesses

    NATO authorizes additional forces for Kosovo

    Assembly of Kosovo approves unanimously Resolution, condemning the Serb terrorist attack on the police

  • Top News

    What Serbia is not achieving through dialogue, it wants to achieve through terrorist attacks, says FP’s Vasili

    Powerful explosion in Ankara near Parliament and other government institutions; outlawed PKK claims responsibility of the attack

    US Embassy in Tirana calls on Albanian prosecutors to apply for 3 vacancies in SPAK

    Attack of the Serbian armed group in North Kosovo was a ‘true military attack’, said Albania’s former Interior Minister

    Germany says it is irritating when Vucic declares the culprits as the victims…

    SPAK is making progress in Albania’s objectives for justice reform, says the US Embassy

    PM Rama urges the EU to condemn Serbia’s declaration of mourning

    Declaration of mourning by Serbia fuels armed conflict threat; EU and US should raise democratic alarm, Albania’s government head said

    Special Court announces sentences for former minister Lefter Koka and his accomplices over Fier incinerator

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Home ENGLISH

Finally, Some Good News: Albania and North Macedonia on EU Membership Road

6 April, 2020
in ENGLISH, Global
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By Tania Lessenska
Recently, the members of the European Council agreed to open negotiations on EU membership with North Macedonia and Albania. However, after taking a year and a half to acknowledge that the countries had met most of the requirements to launch the talks, the European Union initially appeared to go back on its promises. The bloc missed opportunities to begin the process during a Western Balkans summit held in Sofia in May 2018, as well as during discussions in the General Affairs Council in June 2019 and, most noticeably, the following October.
France vetoed the talks on the third occasion, with the ambition of reforming the accession process itself. Indeed, shortly after, Paris came out with a non-paper that the European Commission quickly adopted as its new approach to enlargement. Nonetheless, despite this initiative, the French veto sent a discouraging signal to all non-EU countries in the Western Balkans: even North Macedonia’s historic agreement to change its name (at the insistence of Greece) seemed insufficient to launch accession negotiations. Accordingly, the French veto triggered the resignation of Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in January, and a snap election due to be held this month.
Had it come earlier, the long-awaited green light for the accession negotiations might have produced a substantial election victory for the more liberal parties in North Macedonia and, ideally, an ongoing political campaign to adopt the EU’s governance standards. Alas, what should have been a proud day for North Macedonia and Albania boiled down to a few statements and some gratitude for financial aid. It is hard to find celebratory articles or news reports on the start of the negotiations in the countries’ media outlets. Macedonian and Albanian journalists are (like their counterparts in other countries) now preoccupied with covid-19 cases, government measures to contain the spread of the virus, and personal stories about its effects. Just one Macedonian television station invited the national coordinator on EU integration to discuss the event and the new approach to enlargement.
But, at the same time, the coronavirus crisis also shows why it is particularly important for North Macedonia and Albania to have a close relationship with the EU. Alongside the accession talks, the countries will receive €70m and €50m in EU crisis aid respectively. For states that are still building up and strengthening their institutions, such assistance is not only welcome but symbolic of European solidarity and support. In contrast to the negotiations, EU financial aid has garnered a great deal of praise from the countries’ journalists and political leaders – including government and opposition figures alike. Some of these leaders have emphasised that such aid makes them feel as though they are not alone, and that they now have a valuable instrument to help them protect citizens.
Even North Macedonia’s historic agreement to change its name (at the insistence of Greece) seemed insufficient to launch accession negotiations
However, several challenges still lie ahead for the EU in its relationships with North Macedonia and Albania. Firstly, now that the European Council has endorsed the new enlargement methodology, the Commission will put forward a plan for the Western Balkans on investment, socio‐economic integration, and the rule of law. Once the Council approves the plan, the Commission will present draft negotiating frameworks to the two countries, providing further detail on the proposals set out in the revised methodology. Yet all this was widely expected to happen on the margins of the next EU-Western Balkans summit, which is scheduled to take place in Zagreb next month but whose fate is unclear due to restrictions around covid-19. If the meeting is to go ahead as planned, the Commission and other EU institutions will have to show an immense capacity for multitasking. Simultaneously, the Commission needs to spell out how it will integrate candidate countries into its response to the covid-19 crisis.
For North Macedonia and Albania, the challenge is two-fold. Beginning negotiations with a new framework and reordered priorities is hard enough in any circumstances, let alone while finding a way to emerge from a global pandemic, revive the economy, and console the many citizens who will lose loved ones. Covid-19 is exposing structural deficiencies in the public services of even the most robust democracies; it could be far more devastating for states that are in the process of stabilising their institutions. Accession will require dedication, persistence, and focus. One can only hope that North Macedonia and Albania will retain the ambition to successfully complete the process, and to engage in honest efforts at democratic reform, despite the pressure on their institutions created by the crisis. And it is unclear whether North Macedonia’s snap election will produce a government capable of this.
It is in the EU’s interest to continuously emphasise its commitment to the Western Balkans – especially given the growing influence of countries such as China, Russia, and Turkey in the region. Serbia is a case in point. The country’s president, Aleksandar Vucic, continues to display his affection towards China in a typically dramatic fashion, even kissing the Chinese flag and claiming that “European solidarity does not exist”. And all this despite the fact the EU has granted Serbia around €90m in aid to fight the virus.
Admittedly, the EU deserves some criticism for its handling of the crisis. But Vucic’s provocative behaviour is only the most obvious symbol of Serbia’s unclear geopolitical alignment. Others include Belgrade’s acquisition of Russian military equipment (which it only stopped late last year), its unsustainable approach to the resolution of its dispute with Kosovo, and its gradual erosion of media freedom and fair election procedures. Vucic’s continual failure to recognise the benefits of EU membership has left Serbia in accession limbo and strengthened its connections with authoritarian regimes.

All this illustrates the importance of the decisions that leaders in North Macedonia and Albania will make in the coming months and years. So far, they have remained on the path to EU membership, engaging in major reforms and, at times, making significant sacrifices. They acknowledge that they are yet to begin much of the real work towards EU membership, but recognise that they must do so for the good of future generations. (ecfr.eu, April 6, 2020)

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