The U.S. special envoy to the Western Balkans, Matthew Palmer, said the European Union had sent to Serbia and Kosovo an ‘unfortunate message’, by refusing to open accession negotiations with Macedonia and Albania.

Palmer told VOA that the goals of the United States and the EU when it comes to resolving the Kosovo issues are the same, but that individual EU members are sending different messages.

We are here to support the process and encourage the parties to reach an agreement. However, we want them to be aware of what is being offered, why it is important for them to reach a normalization agreement. This is one of the reasons why the decision of the European Council not to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia is so discouraging. Because it sends the wrong message to both Belgrade and Pristina, that you can do difficult things, make difficult decisions, reach a compromise, but you can still be denied the road to Europe, Palmer said.

This situation, Palmer concludes, allows Russia, China and other actors to step up their influence in the Balkans.