The United States says both Albania and North Macedonia deserve to move forward on the path to European Union membership. A State Department spokesman reaffirmed the US stance on VOA’s Macedonian service, after Bulgaria said it would not change its decision on Skopje by the end of the year.

“It is critical that the EU adheres to its commitments, and that means the opening of membership negotiations without delay to both North Macedonia and Albania. “The EU enlargement process promotes peace, stability, democracy and prosperity throughout the region, and unnecessary delays are discouraging for the whole region.”

The State Department called for the situation to be resolved as soon as possible “in order to consolidate progress towards the necessary reforms and economic development in the Western Balkans region”.
“The United States continues to work closely with the EU on this issue,” the spokesman said.
Bulgaria has said it will not approve the EU – wide negotiating framework for North Macedonia, but is ready to do so for Albania, according to the Bulgarian transitional government’s press service.

“Bulgaria believes that Albania is ready to move forward on the path to the EU and it is ready to support the adoption of the Negotiating Framework for the country and the holding of the first Intergovernmental Conference”, reads the press release of the Bulgarian government. 
The government approved Bulgaria ‘s position to attend the General Affairs Council meeting on December 14th.

/Klara Ruci/