From Ohrid, where he met with Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski, European Council President Charles Michel announced positive activities next week regarding the start of negotiations for the membership of North Macedonia and Albania in the EU.

“The European Union is very committed to the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania to start membership negotiations.

Every effort is being made to find a mutually acceptable solution. I am convinced that soon there will be a very positive development, which will be very important for your country and the whole region,” said Michel.

The Prespa Forum for Dialogue is taking place in Ohrid. Although it has opened the doors for the start of membership negotiations in 2018, the European Union has not yet launched them, neither with North Macedonia, nor with Albania.

In the case of North Macedonia, Bulgaria has put a blockade, due to some disputes between the two countries, related to language and identity. Consequently, Albania is also left behind, because some EU countries do not want a decoupling of Albania from North Macedonia.

Pendarovski reminded that the delay in the integration process shakes the credibility of the European Union and said that the conditionality of a member state against a candidate country for membership is a flagrant violation of the promise of a European future for the Balkan countries.

/Klara Ruci/