European Commission for opening negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia

BRUSSELS, (Patria) - The European Commission today presented two reports on the progress of Albania and North Macedonia in further reforms related to the rule of law, especially in areas that the Council determined in June 2018. Both countries have achieved additional tangible and sustainable results, thus justifying the Commission's recommendation to open accession negotiations with them.

Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi expressed satisfaction with the presented reports.

“Following the adoption of the revised methodology for the accession process in February, today we are presenting new reports for Albania and North Macedonia, and they show that these countries have intensified their work and achieved additional tangible and sustainable results in key areas determined in the Council conclusions of June 2018. The Commission firmly stands behind its recommendations to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. I hope that the member states will also decide so in the coming weeks.”

Tripartite approach in 2020.

The Western Balkans is a priority for the Commission. In doing so, a tripartite approach is being followed in 2020. On February 5, the Commission put forward a proposal to boost the EU accession process by making it more credible, dynamic, predictable, and politically clear. At the same time, the Commission firmly stands behind its recommendations to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia because both are implementing agreed reforms. Third, as part of the preparations for the EU-Western Balkans Summit to be held in Zagreb on May 6 and 7, the Commission will present an economic development investment plan for the region.

In today's reports, the Commission objectively and factually describes the progress that both countries have made since June 2018 in the areas determined by the Council.

Regarding Albania, progress in implementing judicial reform, the vetting process for judges and prosecutors, and the fight against corruption and organized crime, including cannabis cultivation and trafficking of hard drugs, has been described. Other important issues have also been pointed out, for example, the agreement on how to approach electoral system reform and work in the area of unfounded asylum applications.

Regarding North Macedonia, important steps taken to strengthen judicial independence, including the recently adopted revised law on the Public Prosecutor's Office, have been described. Progress has been made in the fight against corruption and organized crime, as well as in the reforms of intelligence services and public administration.

In April 2018, the Commission recommended opening accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. In June 2018, the Council confirmed the progress and set out the path towards opening accession negotiations, depending on the progress made in certain key areas.

After the Commission gave further positive recommendations in May 2019, the Council postponed the decision first until June, and then October 2019, after which it decided to return to the issue of enlargement before the Zagreb Summit in May 2020.

The General Affairs Council is expected to discuss further steps for the enlargement policy in March 2020, based on the revised methodology, and the progress of North Macedonia and Albania towards opening accession negotiations. The European Commission will present a more detailed assessment of the overall situation with all partners in the enlargement process in the annual enlargement package in a few months.