The door to EU membership for Albania and Macedonia remains closed at least until June 2019, but accession is on offer if the countries make progress on reforms, EU ministers decided Tuesday. Through this decision, EU member states have given a cautious green light to opening accession negotiations with Albania and Macedonia, requiring both countries to demonstrate progress on reforms before the first talks can begin next year.
Meeting in Luxembourg on June 26, EU foreign ministers agreed to set out “the path towards opening accession negotiations in June 2019,” according to the final draft of their joint statement.
During a marathon session of the General Affairs Council, the majority of member countries argued in favor of opening membership talks now but France and Netherlands, with the backing of Denmark, were the main opponents, diplomats said.
Progress should include “further tangible and sustained results” on reforms of the judiciary, security services, and public administration, as well as cracking down on corruption.
Albania and Macedonia hope the decision will clear the way for approval by EU leaders at a summit on June 28-29.
The decision came amid divisions among the 28 EU member states over the issue, with France and the Netherlands, backed by Denmark, calling for more reforms in Albania and Macedonia before membership talks can kick off.
