Outgoing EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn welcomed the vote in the German Bundestag to approve opening EU accession talks with Macedonia and Albania.

Very much welcome today’s vote in German Bundestag in favour of opening accession negotiations with “North” Macedonia and Albania in October. Acknowledgement of concrete progress is key as incentive for reforms in the Western Balkans and for EU’s credibility, Hahn tweeted.

European countries are supposed to decide on the proposal in October, with France and the Netherlands seen as the top opponents of opening EU accession talks with Macedonia and Albania.