Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said that Macedonia and Albania should be evaluated independently as they both apply for the opening of EU accession talks in October. The Netherlands is strongly opposed to Albania opening accession talks, less so toward Macedonia, and Blok’s comment are seen as an indication that his country will let Macedonia slide.

I believe that “North” Macedonia and Albania should be evaluated separately as they are two separate countries with different problems and prospects. I have said it before, the level of progress in Macedonia is greater than in Albania, Blok said in the Dutch Parliament, adding that Albania is not ready to open accession talks.

Albanian politicians have threatened with an outburst of nationalism if the two countries are decoupled. The Dutch are main opponents to their accession talks, while France is seen as opposed to both Macedonia and Albania, as it fears that adding more Balkan countries to the EU will dilute the union and make it unmanageable.