The EU Ambassador to Albania, Luigi Soreca, told Euronews Albania journalist Elona Gjylmi that Albania has “met all the conditions”, but in case it is not separated from North Macedonia it should not lose further time with the negotiations.
Ambassador Soreca reiterated that it is the first time that all member states, including countries that had been skeptical in the past, such as The Netherlands, Spain, and Denmark, all support Albania as it has fulfilled its conditions.
“Tomorrow is an important day. The Council will discuss the proposal of the Presidency and of the European Commission to open the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) for both countries, Albania and North Macedonia. Both countries have met all the conditions requested by the Council last year in March 2020.”
“There is a clear intention of the member states to bring the two countries together forward, because regional dimension of enlargement is very important”, said the EU Ambassador, while adding that the bloc might need some more time to discuss about North Macedonia.
Commending the Albanian system for completing “its part of the homework”, the EU Ambassador said that now it is imperative “to not waste any time”, and highlighted the importance that the Western Balkans Summit will have under the Slovenian presidency set to take place in October.
“It is important to congratulate the Albanian system as a whole for having done this part of the homework for the first IGC, and of course the work will continue, for the second, the third… And finally, if tomorrow there is not a breakthrough it is very important not to waste time and to make sure that this year is the year of the Western Balkans under the Slovenian presidency of the Council which starts in a few days. There will be a very important Western Balkans Summit at the beginning of October in Slovenia. It would be very important to go this summit with good news”, stated Ambassador Soreca.
According to the EU Ambassador, decoupling is not very likely, as the EU and the member states want to see both countries go forward alongside, but added that enlargement is based on merit.
“It is early to say. Albania has done what it was requested. North Macedonia is moving ahead. At the moment, the EU and the member states want to have the two countries together because the regional dimension is important. The enlargement process is based on merit. It is important not to disappoint those who have done their work, and it’s important that the EU takes a decision to give to what they deserve, the way forward”.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
