Albania and North Macedonia open accession talks with the European Union on Tuesday.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced this, writes European Pravda.

"Today Albania and North Macedonia open accession negotiations with the EU. This historic moment is your success. The result of your hard work. The European Commission has supported you in everything. We will continue to do so," von der Leyen said at a briefing in Brussels.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Dimitar Kovaczewski, head of the government of Northern Macedonia, came to Brussels on Tuesday.

"You have shown patience, vision and leadership. And you have repeatedly proven your commitment to European values as friends and reliable partners. We will all win when we one day welcome Albania and North Macedonia to the EU," von der Leyen said.

Kovaczewski wrote on Twitter that North Macedonia, after 17 years of waiting, is finally beginning negotiations.

"We are opening new perspectives for the state and citizens and are slowly but surely entering the larger European family," the post said.

As a reminder, the Council of the European Union decided on June 18 to begin accession talks with Albania and Northern Macedonia.

Earlier, the parliament of Northern Macedonia adopted an agreement brokered by France aimed at settling the dispute with Bulgaria and unblocking the way to long overdue talks on EU membership.