Unable to approve the negotiating frameworks for Albania and North Macedonia, the ambassadors of EU member countries are expected to approve today the draft-conclusions on both countries. These conclusions refer to the steps remaining until the negotiation frameworks are approved and for accession negotiations to officially begin.
Everything looked on the right track with the start of the German presidency of the EU in July 2020. In the past six months, EU ambassadors have mostly discussed on the new enlargement methodology. When all 27 member states agreed on the details of the integration of the new enlargement methodology in the negotiation framework, a bilateral issue made consensus among the 27 members impossible.
Bulgaria insisted that the issue concerning the history, language and ethnic minorities in North Macedonia be integrated in the negotiation framework with North Macedonia. None of the 26 member countries supports Bulgaria’s move to obtain assurances prior to the official launch of accession talks with North Macedonia.
Most member states believe this bilateral issue could be addressed throughout the negotiation process, which lasts many years. But, Bulgaria doesn’t budge from its position and the decision to approve the negotiation frameworks for North Macedonia and Albania requires unanimity. Apart from this, North Macedonia needs to agree with the negotiation framework.
But, North Macedonia does not accept Bulgaria’s stance. As a result, the approval of negotiation frameworks with North Macedonia and Albania remains blocked. This makes it impossible for the German presidency of the EU to hold the first intergovernmental conference with North Macedonia in December. As far as Albania is concerned, the member states do not contest the approval of the negotiation framework.
However, not all member states agree to the launch of negotiation talks with Albania. At least five of these members say that Albania has not delivered two of six key conditions which are required for the holding of the first intergovernmental conference. These two conditions relate to the functioning of the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court and also the approval of the electoral reform based on recommendations by OSCE/ODIHR. The European Commission considers the latter to be fulfilled. The law on online media is the only condition remaining now.
Divisions between the European Commission and some member states regarding the fulfilment of the conditions imposed on Albania still remain. Nevertheless, all member states seem to agree on one thing that Albania has not yet delivered all the conditions needed to start accession talks./abcnews.al
