The European Union countries consider a non-paper regarding the bloc’s enlargement to include the Western Balkans as still a credible option, with 13 member states supporting the idea, Radio Free Europe (RFE) reported on Thursday.
RFE had insight into the document which, among other things, said that EU should confirm its explicit dedication to the Western Balkans integration and that there was no “a plan B” for the region.
Non-paper is an unofficial document usually circulates in close negotiations within the EU institutions, especially in the Council of Ministers and serve to help to reach agreement on a disputes political issue.
According to RFE information, Poland initiated the non-paper, and 12 other countries supported it, mostly from Central and Eastern Europe, i.e., the countries from “the new members’ group.”
It also reported that more support was sought before the ministerial meeting on June 18.
Poland tries to get the document adopted in the form of a joint EU ministers’ declaration.
The document also demands the confirmation of opening the accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania.
That decision would serve as an important motivating factor for the whole region, the 13 countries said.
However, the European Commission, which recommended the opening, has recently said there was no consensus among the member states on the green light for the two countries.
Earlier on Thursday, North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said he would resign if the EU did not give Skopje the date for opening the talks in June, as the bloc promised.
Zaev warned that the EU reluctance to open the negotiations might result in other powers, as China and Russia, increase their influence.
The 13 countries also said the opening would “strengthen the resistance of those countries to damaging interests from outside and make EU capable of keeping its positive role in the regional transformation.”
