European Council President: Skopje's and Tirana's future is in EU

NEWS 24.01.202021:55
Tanjug/AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski

Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, said in Skopje on Friday that the future of both North Macedonia and Albania was in the European Union and that his visits to the two countries’ capitals aimed at “giving the strong message about it,” the Beta news agency reported.

Michel that to his host, Prime Minister Oliver Spasovski, in Skopje, after coming there from Tirana, according to North Macedonia’s Government.

He praised North Macedonia for its ‘continuous implementation of reforms and the deals with Greece and Bulgaria.”

Spasovski told Michel Skopje expected a new methodology for the EU enlargement to confirm the readiness to start the accession negotiations with Skopje, the statement said.

The Prime Minister added that ‘the timing is crucial for North Macedonia to avoid endangering the reforms and the Prespa deal with Greece on the country’s new name.

Michel, who is due to meet President Stevo Pendarovski later on Friday, was also briefed by the Government about the early general vote in North Macedonia scheduled for April 12.  

France led a small group of EU member states who blocked the decision on setting a date for the start of the negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania last October, arguing that the bloc should first reconsider the accession process in general.

The majority of other EU members criticised Paris and have been trying to encourage Skopje and Tirana to stay on the European path ever since.