The European Commission is expecting the enlargement process for Western Balkans to continue as soon as possible with the first Inter-Governmental Conference for Albania as well as North Macedonia.
The Commission’s spokesperson, Ana Pisonero emphasized during a press conference that “the EC anticipates the first IGC for both countries as soon as possible”.
Pisonero’s statement came after a report during the day of a possible proposal that Albania be separated from North Macedonia and continue with its first IGC since June.
Sources of Euronews correspondent in Brussels, Jack Parrock announced today that “the European Commission is expected to recommend holding the first IGC conference for Albania in June, during their upcoming meeting”.
During a press conference, Politico’s journalist, Jans Joachim Von Der Burchard, asked the EC’s spokesperson Ana Pisonero regarding this information and about the stance of the Commission by now, “to continue the process of integration for Albania separated from North Macedonia, or not”.
It seems that Skopje is still in the middle of a political standstill in regards to Sofia, when it comes to matters of a historical context. Until last year, countries in the EU have sided with the idea that both Albania and North Macedonia should simultaneously enter the accession process and not be separated. However, today, there were reports that the European Commission could propose the initiation of the inter-governmental conference only for Albania.
In regards to this report, the spokesperson for EC has reiterated the same stance that the EC “should continue the process as soon as possible for both countries”.
“What I can tell you is what EC has been saying for a long time now, that we look forward to holding the first IGC conferences with both Albania and North Macedonia as soon as possible and this is the position that is very clear from the Commission’s side. You know that for this to happen, the Council needs to agree on the negotiating frameworks, which the commission already put forth its proposal a while ago and this is where we are, so the commission looks forward to the presidency convening the first intergovernmental conference as soon as possible with both countries,” – stated the spokesperson for the European Commission, Ana Pisonero.
Since January 1st of this year, the presidency of the European Council is led by Portugal. The presidency is held for a 6-month period.
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