Italy, Poland, Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic said they will accept the French proposal to change the ways in which the EU conducts enlargement, provided that in return France allows the opening of accession talks with Macedonia and Albania.

France vetoed any further accession talks until both the process of enlargement, but also, and more importantly, the EU itself, are thoroughly reformed. The French Government presented a non – paper with its ideas on how the former condition can be met.

Foreign ministers from these six countries wrote to the European Commission to say that they agree on improving the accession process, but in exchange for opening of accession talks with Macedonia and Albania in March. The countries remind the EU on the promise given to the Balkan countries more than 15 years ago and on the need to complete the unification of Europe. They promise to work constructively to amend the enlargement process, asking that it continues to lead to full EU membership.