Reuters: EU opens negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia

The European Union will begin membership negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia, according to a draft decision signed by 27 members of the bloc, to which Reuters had access.

Reuters: EU opens negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia

The document, according to Reuters, should be ready by the end of the week.

Recall that the Netherlands and France opposed the start of negotiations because of their skepticism regarding the fight against corruption and democratic events in Albania and Northern Macedonia.

However, Paris and The Hague have recently reduced pressure.

Greece has not yet made a decision, but diplomatic sources say they agree in Athens, because, according to Reuters, the document contains provisions to strengthen the protection of minority rights in Albania (the Greek minority lives in southern Albania, their exact number has not been established: 1% – official statistics of Albania, up to 12% – Greek sources)

According to British agency sources, if no country objects to this document, it can be approved in the middle of the week.