In the most recent plenary session of the European Parliament, debates took place over the progress of the rapports between Albania, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia and Serbia. The reports on the enlargement process come as a result of the European Parliament’s annual reports on the countries that are candidates of the accession negotiations for membership in the EU.
Representatives of the Commission and Council, together with rapporteurs of each respective country, spoke on their commitment to work for the adherence of the Western Balkans in the EU.
“We consider Albania to have fulfilled the conditions mandated by the Council on March of last year, on the First Inter-Governmental Conference, “said Oliver Varhelyi, Commissioner on the Enlargement process.
In addition, parties on the left including progressive socialists and democrats from the European Parliament as well as ‘Green parties’ recognized the achievements of the four countries regarding the rule of law, freedom of the press and the war against corruption.
“The enlargement of the EU is one of the foundations of a sustainable and interconnected Europe. The countries of the Western Balkans are part of Europe,” said Tanja Fajon, from the Group of Socialists and Democrats in the EP.
“I am very worries because the EU is losing the Western Balkans, the Council has decided to open negotiations but during a time of the COVID-19 crisis, our geo-political attention is on Turkey, Russia and the Arab World,” stated Massimo Castalod, member of the EP, group “5 Stelle”.
In addition, the representatives of the center-right group, PPE, which also has majority in parliament proposed a postponement for the integration of the Western Balkans, at least until the organization of the conference for the future of Europe. The conservative group for Identity and Democracy was also of the opinion that the time wasn’t favorable for the integration of these countries.
The resolutions adapted in this plenary session represent the official stance of the European Parliament regarding the relations of the EU with these countries.
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