A day after the EU-Western Balkans summit, European Union leaders at the European Council meeting will also discuss the enlargement process.
Although the focus is mainly on Ukraine, several files from Western Balkan countries will be discussed, with disagreements among member states.
Most EU countries want the European Council to express readiness to start accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but some countries oppose it. There is no agreement on the opening of the first chapters in the accession negotiations with Albania. For North Macedonia, the opening of the first chapters is again conditional.
These disagreements will be discussed during the summit held on Thursday and Friday in Brussels, as announced by the EU.
The draft text of the conclusions prepared for approval at this summit will confirm the conclusions of the General Affairs Council.
According to the draft, it will be reiterated that “the EU reaffirms its full and unreserved commitment to the accession perspective of the Western Balkans. The European Council calls for the acceleration of this process”.
It will also be reiterated that the European Council supports the plan for economic growth in the Western Balkans, as well as the gradual integration between the EU and the region during the enlargement process.
Regarding individual countries in the region, only Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia are mentioned in the current version of the draft conclusions.
“The European Council is ready to start accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina when the necessary level of alignment with the accession criteria is reached,” is the version that is now in the text for this state. Austria and some states have requested a more positive language for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Regarding North Macedonia, according to the document, “the EU is ready to complete the opening phase of accession negotiations with North Macedonia as soon as it fulfills the obligations to complete the constitutional changes as stated in the Council conclusions on July 18, 2022, in accordance with internal procedures”.
“The European Council calls on North Macedonia to expedite the completion of these changes,” the draft states.
Sources in the EU say that the entire document of conclusions will depend on reaching consensus on Ukraine and Moldova. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced that he will not accept the decision to start negotiations with Ukraine. However, the other 26 EU countries insist on approving such a decision.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament has approved a report inviting the start of negotiations with Ukraine, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also, the EP report calls for the EU to lift measures against Kosovo.
The European Parliament also expresses concern about Hungary’s behavior, which, according to the EP, is hindering the enlargement process, and also about Hungary’s change in policy towards Kosovo. Another concern of the Parliament is that Hungary will hold the next presidency of the EU from July 1, 2024.
The summit in Brussels is announced to last two days, but according to sources in the EU, it may continue if necessary.
