Albania and North Macedonia have stepped up their efforts at complying with EU requirements

Both Albania and North Macedonia have stepped up their efforts at complying with EU requirements in their bid to eventually join the bloc.

In a formal report about both Balkan countries’ progress relating to rule of law, the Commission noted that both countries have delivered further tangible and sustainable results and therefore the Commission’s recommendation to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia remains valid. In this context, the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi expressed hope that the Member States will take a positive decision in the coming weeks.

With regard to Albania, Brussels noted that further efforts towards establishing a solid track record in the fight against organised crime have been made, although it remains a long-term objective that continues to require additional structured and consistent efforts. On North Macedonia, the Commission welcomed the reform of its intelligence services in cooperation with NATO and other partners.

This article by Keith Zahra appeared first on Diplomatique.Expert