Chancellor Angela Merkel has lowered hopes before the start of the EU summit that Macedonia can hope for start of negotiations.

Chances for reaching a concensus at the EU Summit to set date for opening negotiations with N. Macedonia and Albania are not good, the German Chancellor acknowledged in her address to the Bundestag, Deutsche Welle reports.

We have a responsibility to these states, Merkel said: “I think it pays off to give North Macedonia and Albania a European perspective.”

In the meantime, bridges to EU partners have been built, still holding back on the start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania and insist on greater transparency of the enlargement process. However, the chances of reaching an agreement at the EU summit are not good, Merkel said.