EU summit fails to achieve breakthrough in unblocking accession process of Western Balkan countries

EU summit fails to achieve breakthrough in unblocking accession process of Western Balkan countries

A summit of EU and Western Balkan leaders failed on Thursday to break the deadlock over the stalled EU accession process for North Macedonia and Albania. This was reported by Reuters.

 

The leaders of the six Balkan countries of Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia expressed disappointment that accession talks have not begun or have stalled years after they were promised possible EU membership.

 

"What happened is a serious blow to trust in (the) European Union," North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski said after the EU-Balkan summit.

 

At the summit, the EU reiterated its promise, made nearly two decades ago, to grant Balkan countries membership after they introduce deep economic, judicial and political reforms.

 

"The meeting clearly and unambiguously reiterated the European perspective of the Western Balkans and the region's future in the European Union," an EU spokesman said.

 

But Bulgaria, an EU member, has had a veto since 2020, when it blocked accession talks with Northern Macedonia over a dispute over history and language. Albania's negotiations are also blocked because the EU links its progress to that of North Macedonia.

 

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said it was a disgrace and also accused EU leaders of impotence for failing to press Sofia to make concessions.

 

"It is a disgrace on the part of Bulgaria to hold hostage two NATO states, Albania and North Macedonia, in the midst of a war on the backs of Europe, while 27 countries sit motionless in a terrible display of impotence," Eddie Rama said.

 

Rama said he made his position clear to leaders in a closed-door meeting Thursday. But the collapse of the Bulgarian government coalition on Wednesday meant that Brussels had no possibility of a breakthrough.

 

"Even the pandemic ... threatening war failed to bring them together," Rama said of the disunity of EU leaders.

 

But Bulgarian Prime Minister Kirill Petkov, who represented his country despite losing a vote of confidence Wednesday, said he hoped for support for North Macedonia in the Bulgarian parliament soon, without providing further details.

 

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also said the issue could be resolved next week, citing hopes that the Bulgarian parliament will reconvene to support lifting the veto on North Macedonia.





A summit of EU and Western Balkan leaders failed on Thursday to break the deadlock over the stalled EU accession process for North Macedonia and Albania. This was reported by Reuters.

 

The leaders of the six Balkan countries of Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia expressed disappointment that accession talks have not begun or have stalled years after they were promised possible EU membership.

 

"What happened is a serious blow to trust in (the) European Union," North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski said after the EU-Balkan summit.

 

At the summit, the EU reiterated its promise, made nearly two decades ago, to grant Balkan countries membership after they introduce deep economic, judicial and political reforms.

 

"The meeting clearly and unambiguously reiterated the European perspective of the Western Balkans and the region's future in the European Union," an EU spokesman said.

 

But Bulgaria, an EU member, has had a veto since 2020, when it blocked accession talks with Northern Macedonia over a dispute over history and language. Albania's negotiations are also blocked because the EU links its progress to that of North Macedonia.

 

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said it was a disgrace and also accused EU leaders of impotence for failing to press Sofia to make concessions.

 

"It is a disgrace on the part of Bulgaria to hold hostage two NATO states, Albania and North Macedonia, in the midst of a war on the backs of Europe, while 27 countries sit motionless in a terrible display of impotence," Eddie Rama said.

 

Rama said he made his position clear to leaders in a closed-door meeting Thursday. But the collapse of the Bulgarian government coalition on Wednesday meant that Brussels had no possibility of a breakthrough.

 

"Even the pandemic ... threatening war failed to bring them together," Rama said of the disunity of EU leaders.

 

But Bulgarian Prime Minister Kirill Petkov, who represented his country despite losing a vote of confidence Wednesday, said he hoped for support for North Macedonia in the Bulgarian parliament soon, without providing further details.

 

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also said the issue could be resolved next week, citing hopes that the Bulgarian parliament will reconvene to support lifting the veto on North Macedonia.