The office of German Chancellor Angela Merkel claims that they stand firmly behind the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries. In a response to press inquiries by the Montenegrin Pobjeda daily, the Bundeskanzleramt says that the delays in opening EU accession talks with Macedonia and Albania were due to the the schedule of the German Parliament.

The country reports were published late by the European Commission and there was not much time to open accession talks with “North Macedonia” and Albania. The federal Government must receive Parliament approval before making the decision, Merkel’s office said.

The promised June date was lost, and Zoran Zaev is now hoping for a date in October. France remains the most outspoken critic of any enlargement, while the Netherlands opposes adding Albania, and to a lesser extent, Macedonia.