Although all eyes are on French President Emmanuel Macron, who is opposed to setting a date for opening negotiations with Macedonia and Albania, ie the EU enlargement, his opinion is shared by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. At least that is how the German Chancellor’s statement can be interpreted after meeting her French counterpart on Wednesday.

Merkel has backed Macron in calling for the accession process to be reformed, transparent and reversible if negotiations do not go so well.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel leaves room for agreement on setting a date for accession negotiations with Macedonia and Albania. Merkel stressed that there were no differences between Germany and France in the fact that the Western Balkan countries had the prospect of EU membership. The two sides want to consider until Friday how to find a common position at the EU summit.

They will also have to be acceptable to other EU members, Chancellor Merkel said.

At the joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron said the two countries had made significant progress in domestic reforms, but for the time being, it was not enough.

I share Merkel’s view that the region is of strategic importance, I want to send a positive signal to the leaders of these countries, but because of the bad experience now we are the ones who need more time, Macron said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday.