Tag: enlargement
Macedonia 11.11.20 | 11:37

FAZ: No enlargement if settlement of historical disputes becomes precondition for EU accession negotiations

Bulgaria’s insistence on controversial historical issues as a condition for Macedonia’s EU integration could jeopardize the entire EU enlargement policy, writes the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. In this part of Europe where historical disputes are overestimated, the EU’s...

Macedonia 07.10.20 | 10:09

EU Enlargement Commissioner Varhelyi visits Macedonia

EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi visits Macedonia today to discuss the progress report that was published yesterday, as well as two planned investment programs for the Western Balkans. Most importantly, Macedonia is hoping that the report will solidify the recommendation to open EU accession...

Macedonia 30.09.20 | 18:48

Germany’s Maas says he supports opening of EU accession talks by the end of 2020, calls on Macedonia and Bulgaria to resolve bilateral issues

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that he supports the opening of EU accession talks with Macedonia by the end of the year. In a video conference with Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, Maas said that the objections from Bulgaria are a billateral issue that is being resolved. Bulgaria demands...

Macedonia 04.05.20 | 22:58

EU summit declaration makes no mention of enlargement, “Vecernji List” reports

The draft declaration prepared for the coming European Council organized by Croatia does not mention enlargement. Despite high expectations from Macedonia and Albania, who were given the green light to begin accession talks, albeit at an undisclosed date, the declaration only has one vague sentence about...

Macedonia 29.04.20 | 18:24

Macedonia could begin EU accession talks before the end of 2020

Macedonia can hope to open accession talks at the end of the year at best, reports the MIA news agency. EU spokeswoman Ana Pisonero told MIA that the negotiating framework for Macedonia could be presented in June, but then it needs to be approved by all EU member states. EU countries approved the opening...

Macedonia 25.03.20 | 17:23

Varhelyi: Accesion talks with Macedonia and Albania could begin after June

European Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said that the actual opening of accession talks for Macedonia and possibly Albania can be expected after June. Both countries were given an approval to open the accession talks yesterday, but no specific date was set. We want to submit both negotiating...

Macedonia 27.02.20 | 22:11

EU Commissioner Varheyi hopes for a green light for Macedonia and Albania within a few weeks

European Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varheyi said that it’s possible the EU approves the opening of accession talks with Macedonia and Albania within weeks. Varheyi was meeting the foreign ministers of the V4 countries, who are all strong supporters of future EU enlargement, and said that the...

Macedonia 18.02.20 | 10:48

New EU progress reports on Macedonia and Albania will be presented in early March

The European Commission will present its new progress report on Macedonia and Albania in the first days of March. The state run MIA news agency says that the report will be published when it’s clear that all EU member states will approve the opening of accession talks, which were vetoed by France...

Macedonia 15.02.20 | 15:47

Macron says he may lift his veto for Macedonia and Albania, but warns that the negotiations may last very long

French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that he might lift his veto for the opening of EU accession talks with Macedonia and Albania. France blocked the two countries in October, and Macron now says that he is satisfied with the changes to the EU enlargement methodology, but also that new candidates...

Macedonia 13.02.20 | 14:52

Varheyi asks that the EU opens accession talks with Macedonia and Albania

European Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varheyi called on the European Parliament to help speed up the opening of accession talks with Macedonia and Albania. Speaking in Strasbourg, the Hungarian Commissioner said that the enlargement process must be made more dynamic, in order to keep it credible....

Macedonia 10.02.20 | 23:41

Varheyi warns against further delays in EU accession talks with Macedonia and Albania

European Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varheyi asked the EU member states to approve the opening of accession talks with Macedonia and Albania ahead of the Council in May. Speaking before the European Parliament, Varheyi said that the new enlargement methodology is proposed and there is no more reason...

Macedonia 05.02.20 | 19:47

What do the main political parties in the EU say about the new negotiation methodology

The three main political parties in the European Parliament have welcomed the European Commission’s revised methodology proposal for the EU accession process and support the European perspective of the Western Balkans. The European People’s Party said it hoped that after this, negotiations...

Macedonia 05.02.20 | 12:08

EU presents its new enlargement methodology

The European Commission is presenting its new methodology for enlargement, which was prepared after France blocked the opening of accession talks with Macedonia and Albania in October. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the new methodology is “credible and dynamic” and will...

Macedonia 04.02.20 | 11:19

Talks may be halted or suspended, pace will depend on implementation of reforms

Brussels has set out plans to streamline the sprawling EU enlargement process and give member states stronger powers to halt or reverse accession talks, in response to concerns in Paris and other capitals, the Financial Times writes. The draft plan, set out in a paper seen by the Financial Times, was...

Macedonia 01.02.20 | 11:59

The new Kurz Government will support opening EU accession talks with Macedonia and Albania

The new Austrian Government led by Chacellor Sebastian Kurz will support the introduction of all Balkan countries to the European Union, Serbian media outlets who had insight in the Government platform are reporting. The new Kurz Government calls for a common EU policy toward enlargement which would...

Balkans 30.01.20 | 18:19

Borrell expresses support for having the Balkans join the EU, as the Commission prepares to present its new enlargement methodology

European foreign policy head Josep Borrell, who is on a visit to Kosovo, said that the EU will not be complete until the Balkan countries join. Borrell travels to Serbia tomorrow, where he is supposed to try and advance the talks between the two countries after the recent push by the US diplomacy. And...

Macedonia 24.01.20 | 10:50

Charles Michel visits Macedonia

European Council President Charles Michel arrives to Macedonia today for meetings ahead of the expected presentation of the new enlargement methodology. Michel has been broadly supportive of the opening of EU accession talks with Macedonia, a move that was vetoed by France in October. France objected...

Macedonia 23.01.20 | 18:48

EU postpones the publication of its enlargement methodology

The European Commission will postpone the publication of its new enlargement methodology by at least a week. The new set of rules for bringing in new member states, which France insists on, was supposed to be published on January 29, but spokeswoman Ana Pisonero said it will be published a week late...

Macedonia 18.01.20 | 11:04

Osmani says he is encouraged by the changes in the EU enlargement methodology

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European integration Bujar Osmani said he is encouraged by what he has seen in the new EU methodology for admitting new member states and the recent visit from Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi. Macedonia was vetoed by France in October, which prevented the opening of accession...

Macedonia 15.01.20 | 17:41

Commissioner Varhelyi pledges that enlargement toward the Balkans will be a priority for the EU

European Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said that both Macedonia and Albania are prepared to open EU accession talks. In the coming months we will work on three tracks: proposal to drive EU enlargement forward to make negotiations more credible, predictable, political and dynamic; opening of...

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