Slovenian member of the European Parliament Lojze Peterle warns that there are initiatives in Brussels to pair Macedonia with Albania for the opening of the EU accession talks, which would mean delays for both countries. The Macedonian Government is hoping that after it forced the name change of the country, it will be rewarded with a recommendation to open accession talks this June, but the date has been slipping out of reach, and a package with Albania could mean a significant delay.

I think that it would be unfair, unjust and dishonest if “North Macedonia” is not give a date to open accession talks, and I don’t think it’s good that some countries insist that it is put in a package with Albania. I believe that “North Macedonia” has all the arguments it needs to open accession talks in June, as that is just the start and not the end of the process, Peterle said.

With Greek objections presumably removed after the Prespa treaty, France, Denmark and the Netherlands are seen as the main obstacles to opening accession talks. Peterle warns of “bad consequences” if Macedonia is not given the accession talks date after all the sacrifices of the past years.