LOCAL PRESS

 

Djuric: Bans only for Serbs, our response is massive turnout for elections (RTS)

 

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric has told the morning news of Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) that the Serbs are facing brutal discrimination on the eve of the Kosovo elections. He notes that the Serb List is banned to state “Serbia calling” while other are not penalized for stating “the Serb List is a monster”. “The only way for us to win is massive turnout. I am calling all residents of Kosovo and Metohija who are on the electoral list, regardless of what documents they have, to exercise their right and turn out. We will report attempts of discrimination to international institutions,” said Djuric. Responding to the media reports that intrusions of the Kosovo police are possible on the day of the elections, Djuric says nobody should play. “Serbia is always ready to protect the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. That is why I wish to tell our people that they there needs to be massiveness. If there are ten out of ten Serb MPs, the provincial government will not be formed without the Serb votes, the Serb voice will be louder,” he says. According to him, the protection of the position Serbs will depend from the election results. “Serbia calling” is an invitation that we are proud of, and to which the Serbs will respond, whatever the weather is,” he said.

 

Odalovic: I do not rule out new provocations aimed at Kosovo Serbs (RTS/B92)

 

Foreign Ministry Secretary General Veljko Odalovic said today that Pristina is panic-stricken and does not rule out new provocations and problems for Serbs. Odalovic told RTS that it is evident that Albanians cannot calculate and manipulate the Serb List, so they try in other ways.

"As for Kosovo Serb parties, it is obvious that Pristina supports some parties. The dispute was made in a specific way. In the 1970s and 1980s, when we faced the emergence of a new state in Kosovo, we saw that the key people at that time were Serbs, Albanians supported them. This is a tactic that is still of interest to them", said Foreign Ministry Secretary General Veljko Odalovic.

According to him, it is evident that the Serb list cannot be calculated and manipulated. "The Serb List does not interfere in the Albanian elections, let them choose among themselves. We have a clear policy, the Serb List wants and has every right to seek the support of the Serbs and I hope they will receive it", Odalovic said. He says that it seems to him that Albanians are slowly quieting down, putting aside war rhetoric. Talking about the Brussels dialogue, Odalovic said it is obvious that it would continue. "I hope the new administration will be more determined to implement the agreed. We want to sit with them to discuss things, we will not introduce alternative methods and measures. None of the proposals should be rejected a priori, there is no solution without dialogue", the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

 

SNS offers transport to displaced Serbs from Kosovo to vote for Serb List (RTV Kraljevo/N1)

 

The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) branch in Kraljevo, said it called on some 20,000 Serbs displaced from Kosovo and live in the town to go to Kosovo and vote for the Serb List in Sunday’s elections, local TV reported. Vesna Milojevic, a local SNS official, said that the Serb List is the only grantor of the Serbs’ survival in Kosovo, adding the party managed to unite all Serbs there. However, it is not clear whether those Serbs have Kosovo IDs as well since Pristina’s authorities have said that the voting will be possible only with those documents.

“It is important that Serb List wins all ten mandates. We are not happy with seven, eight or nine. Only with all ten, we will be able to control the formation of a new government and influence its further decisions,” Milojevic said. The local SNS will provide transport to all who want to go to vote, and the time of departure will be published in the media.

 

Serbian MPs with delegation from Ghana (Tanjug)

 

The Head and members of the parliamentary friendship group with Ghana met with a delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the parliament of Ghana, which assured them that Serbia can count on Ghana’s support on matters of the highest the most importance. The Head of the parliamentary friendship group with Ghana Igor Becic said he was concerned about Pristina’s initiative to make the self-declared state of Kosovo a member of INTERPOL. He reminded the guests of the results of the vote taken at the latest INTERPOL General Assembly when most of the members voted against the bid and took the opportunity to ask Ghana to at least abstain from voting in case of a new membership bid. The Chairperson of the Ghanaian Foreign Affairs Committee Frank Annoh-Dompreh said that past mistakes would not be repeated and that Serbia can count on Ghana’s friendly support. “Your interests will be our interests at the international level. I assure you that we will do nothing to undermine you efforts to safeguard the lives of the people in Kosovo and Metohija,” Annoh-Dompreh said. Becic said that the continuous efforts of the provisional institutions in Pristina to make so-called Kosovo a member of international organizations is not in the long-term interest of either Belgrade, Pristina or the international partners with whom we share the same interest - stability in the region. The officials concluded that geographical distance should not be an obstacle to furthering the traditionally friendly relations and the ratification of a parliamentary cooperation agreement could lend the matter additional impulse.

 

Lavrov: US trying to revise Brussels Agreement Belgrade and Pristina signed (RTS/Tanjug/Beta/N1)

 

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday the US was trying to revise a part of the Brussels Agreement dealing with the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) and thus "drag Kosovo into NATO" and keep their base there. He said the ZSO was agreed upon four years ago and that it guaranteed Kosovo Serbs their language, cultural and religious rights.

"This Community is not territorially compact since in the north (of Kosovo) the territories are close to one another, but there are also enclaves which are the part of CSM which has its flag, anthem and coat of arms. But, the agreement remains a dead letter," Lavrov told Moscow's Валдайj think-tank. He added that "now there are attempts to change it with the US active involvement to secure the situation in which Kosovo could become NATO member together with the US largest base in Europe – Bondsteel."

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Dodik once more asks for foreign judges to be removed from B&H CC (Hayat)

 

Serb member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency Milorad Dodik has once again asked for foreign judges to be removed from the Constitutional Court (CC) of B&H. This statement caught the attention of Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic who reminded Dodik of what is stated in the original Dayton Peace Agreement, which he so strongly supports. The Agreement, specifically its Annex 4, which is the Constitution of B&H, stipulates that three judges of the B&H CC must come from other countries. “When they call upon the ‘original Dayton’ they should know that that exclusively implies existence of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) with all its powers and the three foreign judges in the B&H CC; while on the other hand, those same people dispute both the OHR and the foreign judges in the B&H CC, we can see they do not know what they are saying or what they want. So, that means they do not know where they are headed, as they started disputing their own policies,” Komsic said in a public response to Dodik’s conditions. Komsic says that Dodik constantly creates “fake crises” in B&H so he could justify his claims on B&H being an “unstable and unsustainable country”.

 

SBB B&H’s Arnaut: Komsic saved NATO road of B&H (Dnevni list)

 

Representative in the B&H House of Representatives Damir Arnaut (SBB B&H) said that according to the agreement on formation of authorities reached by SDA, SNSD and HDZ B&H on August 5, the focus was placed on the appointment of Council of Ministers of B&H Chairman, whilst the issue of NATO (membership) would be included later on. In this context Arnaut said he believes Chairman of the Presidency of B&H Zeljko Komsic stopped it with the help from the international community, arguing that “I believe Komsic saved out NATO path and we must do everything we remain on that path”. Commenting on statement of SNSD leader Milorad Dodik, who said he would set departure of foreign judges (from the Constitutional Court of B&H) as condition for formation of new authorities), Arnaut said that the foreign judges, just like the entity voting, is a constitutional category. “They were not set just for the sake of it, they are a control mechanism, just like the OHR, to control separatist tendencies. They will remain in place until B&H has become a functional state,” said Arnaut.

 

Komsic: I do not expect formation of new authorities soon (Dnevni list)

 

Chairman of the B&H Presidency Zeljko Komsic who said that regarding the statement of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, according to which he (Komsic) is “illegitimate representative”, he (Komsic) is not clear why people from Croatia react to statements of illegitimate people. “I am prepared to talk to everyone from Croatia, but dignity and interests of B&H must be protected at all cost” said Komsic adding that some Croatian official never comment internal matters of Hungary or Slovenia, but comment everything related to B&H.

Commenting on adoption of the SDA Program Declaration, Komsic said he believes SDA wanted to move more in direction of B&H political option, arguing that it requires a lot of time. “I advocate that idea but I am aware I will not live to see it happen. We are not protected by SDA, nor by HDZ B&H, nor by SNSD, instead we are only protected by B&H,” said Komsic.

The Presidency Chairman is also quoted as saying: “I did not know about SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic’s meeting with HDZ B&H nor what talks about the Annual National Program (ANP) mean. However, there will be no appointment of Chairman-designate for Council of Ministers of B&H without the ANP. Therefore, I do not expect that authorities will be formed soon”.

 

Interview with High Representative Valentin Inzko (Oslobodjenje)

 

High Representative Valentin Inzko commented recent meeting of the Republika Srpska (RS) officials with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic following adoption of the SDA Declaration, and said: “I was pleased to hear the statement of President Vucic after the meeting. He highlighted the respect for the Dayton Peace Agreement and the state of B&H. Such statements are welcome and have a positive effect on the situation in B&H. Asked about the current situation in B&H, Inzko said that B&H's foreign policy goal is EU integration, and despite negative rhetoric at the moment, the country is still on the right track. Asked what he would do if SNSD leader Milorad Dodik fulfilled his threats that he is going to abolish the state-level defense, taxation and judiciary institutions unless Zoran Tegeltija is appointed Chairman-designate of the Council of Ministers of B&H, and Inzko said: “I will not speculate with regards to my actions, which largely depend on the moves by the B&H politicians. I would like to remind you of the statement by the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board, following those statements. The PIC SB called upon political leaders not to take actions that would undermine, weaken, or inhibit the proper functioning of state institutions. According to the PIC SB, entities and institutions must abide by the existing legislation and legally binding arrangements. Reforms such as the defense reform, the creation of a single HJPC at the state level, and the creation of state-level indirect tax authorities, were carried out with the full support of the entity and state-level parliaments. The PIC SB was clear that the B&H Constitution, the existing legislation, and the integrity of state-level institutions must be fully respected.”

It is clear that the authorities at all levels need to be formed as soon as possible, taking into account B&H’s international commitments, said the HR. Commenting political influence of Russia on B&H, Inzko said that like any other country, Russia has its interests and stances on different issues in B&H. “From the perspective of the international community, I shall reiterate, the international community is here long term and is ready to help and assist B&H. That is it – to help and assist. The engine that moves the train called B&H forward must be “Made in B&H.” The era when the international community was prescribing solutions, and sat in the driver’s seat for the implementation of these solutions, is over. The politicians should come to terms with that, and start pushing forward. The sooner the better. There should not be any doubt that, when B&H moves forward in a more decisive manner, the international community will be there to help and assist. Maybe even more than in the past,” said Inzko and concluded that B&H needs reforms that will improve the lives of its citizens.

 

Lavrov: US and its European partners intend to pull B&H into NATO (ATV)

 

Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov stated in Moscow on Wednesday that the US and some of its European partners intend to pull B&H into the NATO. “The US and some of the leading Western European countries want accountable Bosniak political parties and some of the Croat political parties to take the path of creation of a unitary state of B&H. The goal is simple – to bring B&H into the NATO – and, for this purpose, they tend to use different kinds of maneuvers including revision of the Resolution of the UN Security Council,” Lavrov was quoted as saying. Lavrov made this statement addressing the 16th annual session of the Valdai Discussion Club.

 

Pompeo to visit North Macedonia and Montenegro, his visit to focus on issues of Kosovo and region’s Euro-Atlantic integration (Nezavisne novine)

 

An unnamed source close to the US Department of State told daily that the United States have not given up on an intention to have at least basic agreement about the issue of Kosovo between Belgrade and Pristina reached by the end of the year. The very same source said that B&H is the next in line of the US’ priorities in the region. The daily reminded that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is going to visit North Macedonia and Montenegro on Friday, and quoted unnamed source as saying that the main reason for the visit is to make clear that the United States want the entire region to make progress when it comes to Euro-Atlantic integration. At the same time, the US-based media reported that Pompeo’s visit is overshadowed with request for impeachment of US President Donald Trump, while Trump’s political opponents claim that Pompeo was informed about telephone conversation between Trump and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy, during which Trump asked Zelenskiy to launch an investigation into son of likely Democratic Party’s candidate at the upcoming presidential elections in the United States, Joe Biden. AFP news agency claims that ‘diplomatic source in Washington’ has said that main issues during Pompeo’s visit to North Macedonia and Montenegro will be Russian activities in the region and encouraging of other countries to move towards NATO.

 

UN Special Rapporteur Gonzales Morales criticizes B&H authorities for poor management of situation with migrants (BHT1)

 

United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Human Rights of Migrants Felipe Gonzalez Morales presented on Tuesday a report he prepared after spending over a week in B&H and analyzing the situation with migrants in this country. In his report, Gonzales Morales criticized the B&H authorities for poor management of the situation with the migrants and warned about the poor conditions at the temporary reception center ‘Vucjak’ near Bihac. According to the report, migrants at ‘Vucjak’ should be moved to another location. Director of the B&H Foreigners’ Affairs Service Slobodan Ujic confirmed that finding a solution for the migrants at ‘Vucjak’ is underway, because the migrants would not be able to survive there during wintertime. Officials in the Una-Sana Canton (USC) authorities agreed with Gonzales Morales’ report as they have been constantly calling on the state-level authorities to take over the management of the migrant crisis. The USC Government’s Operational Group for Monitoring of the Migrant Crisis in the USC warned that it has lost trust in the state-level authorities, especially after the authorities failed to meet all deadlines for selecting locations for the new reception centers. USC Minister of Interior Nermin Kljajic stated that the USC authorities even found “some solutions”, which have not been accepted by the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) yet. “We are dissatisfied with that situation. We will have to undertake some more repressive measures”, he added. Mayor of Bihac Suhret Fazlic emphasized the need to make the state-level authorities finally engage in solving the situation, and not just wait for the migrants to stop arriving on their own. Fazlic said: “We are also not satisfied with Vucjak as a location. I am not pleased with the fact that the migrants are here, or with the pressure that the citizens have been facing. However, that was the only solution for moving those people from the city center.”

As for the part of the abovementioned UN’s report reading that the Republika Srpska (RS) Police does not allow migrants to take off the trains from Sarajevo in Banja Luka, representatives of the RS Ministry of Interior (MoI) replied that migrants are fully allowed to move across the RS – in a direction indicated in the certificates of their intention to apply for asylum.

 

President Pendarovski meets with Montenegrin President Djukanovic (Nezavisen vesnik)

 

North Macedonia has learned its lesson from the past and it’s realistic to expect the international community to give full support this month for start of EU accession negotiations, as well as full-fledged NATO membership, Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic told a joint press conference with President Stevo Pendarovski. Djukanovic and Pendarovski agree that this month the EU should finally make a decision for start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia, as there was no greater driving force for the countries than European integration.

“It’s important to step up and support North Macedonia on this journey. It is a journey that has no alternative when it comes to stability in the region, prosperity of economy and democracy,” Djukanovic said, adding that North Macedonia has made substantial progress since the 2008 Bucharest summit. He underlined that stability in the region was not possible without its full integration into the EU. “We’re already considering Macedonia as part of NATO, but formalities must be completed. It’s only a question of time, whether it will happen in December or a month or two later. “North Macedonia has already secured its place in NATO, and we believe this is very important for the country’s internal security and for regional stability. There should be no faltering in regard to the start of EU accession negotiations as well. We think it’s time for new dynamics in the enlargement process,” the Montenegrin President said. According to Djukanovic, instability, which has unfortunately become a telltale sign of the Balkans, is a consequence of lagging behind in the development of economy and democracy for too long. The answer to the problems, he noted, should be seen in integration and adoption of the European values and quality of life. In addition, he underlined that Skopje and Podgorica maintained traditionally good relations. President Pendarovski pointed out that the two countries were committed to European and Euro-Atlantic integration, fulfilling the agenda of the Berlin Process and other forms of regional cooperation. “Relations between Skopje and Podgorica are developing in the spirit of the best cooperation. Montenegro was among the first countries to ratify NATO’s protocol. The two countries maintain good relations and share mutual foreign policy priorities,” Pendarovski said.

 

Rutte: The Netherlands is less concerned about North Macedonia than Albania (Nezavisen vesnik)

 

The Netherlands is less concerned about North Macedonia and more about Albania regarding the decision to deliver a date for the start of EU accession negotiations this fall, said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte after a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel. PM Rutte was asked about his country’s position on the issue, saying the Netherlands and other EU members have great concerns about Albania and less about North Macedonia. “We have more concerns regarding the level of progress that has been achieved in Albania. We will discuss the issue with our European partners in the coming weeks. North Macedonia has achieved more than Albania, but discussions will follow” said the Dutch Prime Minister.

 

Finland urges the European Commission to give its consent to the start of accession talks with Albania (Radio Tirana)

 

Finland urges the General Affairs Council to allow the unconditional opening of EU integration talks of Albania and North Macedonia. Finland made a draft proposal for the Council of General Affairs, which will hold a special session on 15 October, three days after the Council of Europe’s decision to open Albania and North Macedonia negotiations with the EU. Finland urges the European Commission to give its consent to the start of accession talks with Albania and our neighbor for EU membership. However, in this draft, neither the nine conditions set by Germany, nor the skepticism of France and the Netherlands about Albania’ accession negotiations opening with the EU have been taken into account. So far, Germany’s official position has been confirmed, which overwhelmingly endorsed the opening of Albania-North Macedonia talks on the process of integration into the European single market.

 

Schulz calls on EU to open negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia (Radio Tirana)

 

Former European Parliament speaker Martin Schulz has called on the European Union to open negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. Present at the ‘The Economist’ forum on the Western Balkans held in Skopje, Schulz said that “I think personalities should keep their promises, especially in the political life. I hope that in October the Council will decide on the start of the talks, as promised. “I hope there will be no further delays,” the former EP president stressed, expressing confidence “for a vote on 15 October”. “Given that Germany and France agree, I hope this will bring a positive impact” Schulz was quoted as saying.

 

President Meta kicks off official visit to Estonia (Radio Tirana)

 

The President of the Republic, Ilir Meta kicked off his official visit to Estonia, invited by the President of the Republic of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid. President Meta thanked his Estonian counterpart for Estonia’s continued support for Albania’s European integration process and noted the fact that on 18 October, Albania hopes to receive the good news from the Council of the European Union on the opening of EU membership negotiations. The Head of the Albanian State appreciated the Memorandum of Cooperation for the European Integration process between our two countries that was signed during this visit, considering it an excellent opportunity to learn from Estonian experience in this field. The two Presidents shared the same views on developments in the region, common security challenges and Euro-Atlantic integration processes, as well as on the need to intensify economic co-operation between Albania and Estonia. “The two Ministries of Foreign Affairs have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the European Integration process, an excellent opportunity to benefit from your experience. Estonia and Albania have much in common, including the fact that we are both members of NAO. Let me underline the fact that Albania is present with its military troops in Latvia in the framework of “NATO Enhanced Forward Presence”. We have a lot to learn from Estonia. And we should promote the beauties of the Albanian coast and the Albanian mountains and we have more and more tourists from your country. Thank you, Dear President, for your invitation and hospitality! I hope we will be looking forward to visiting Albania soon,” said President Meta.

 

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

 

Albania, North Macedonia EU Hopes Depend on Big Players (BIRN, by Sinisa Jakov Marusic, 3 October 2019)

 

Despite the optimism created by the German vote in favour, the battle to secure a start date for North Macedonia’s and Albania’s EU accession talks is far from over.

Albania and North Macedonia received a welcome signal from the German Bundestag on September 27, when German MPs by a huge majority voted to support the start of EU accession talks for the two Balkan countries. The signal from Berlin has boosted the chances that EU enlargement sceptics like France and The Netherlands will soften their opposition at the European Council meeting set for October 17-18, experts say. With less than three weeks to go until this key meeting, observers say the two aspirant countries have little time left to improve their standing on their most important shortcomings, above all on the rule of law, the judiciary and the fight against corruption and crime. All they can do now is hope that the key EU players will agree on a positive outcome. They also say that omitting Albania because of its worse standing on the fight against crime – and granting a start date only to North Macedonia – is an unlikely scenario.

 

All eyes on France and Netherlands:

With a positive signal from Berlin, all eyes have shifted to France and The Netherlands, the two most vocal EU enlargement sceptic countries, albeit for different reasons. France under Emmanuel Macron has emerged as the most ideologically driven opponent of enlargement, with the French President arguing that further expansion at this moment would distract the EU from important internal reforms. The Netherlands has focused more on its concerns about Albania’s poor track record on fighting crime and corruption. Its parliament passed a resolution against giving the country a start date for talks in June. The question now is whether the French and Dutch will lift their objections. James Ker-Lindsay, a professor at the London School of Economics and an expert on the Balkans and on the EU, told BIRN that the EU cannot afford to delay this issue any longer, despite Brussels having a lot on its plate. “It was originally delayed from last year. Then in June this year, EU leaders decided to return to it in October. I don’t think they can delay a decision once again. It would be taken as a sign of extreme bad faith, if not of duplicity, by the two countries,” Ker-Lindsay said. He thinks the French arguments do not hold much water, as enlargement talks will last for a long time and will not impede important EU reforms. “Even if talks start this year with both countries, neither will be in a position to join before 2030,” he noted. “Even under the most optimistic scenario, it would probably take North Macedonia seven or eight years to complete the process. More to the point, there is no conceivable reason why the accession process cannot run hand in hand with EU reform.”

But Ker-Lindsay fears the Dutch position on Albania may resonate with other doubting countries. “There is clearly concern about the situation there. However, I believe that the best way to help secure reforms [in Albania] that will assist with efforts to crack down on organised crime and corruption is to start the EU accession process,” he said. While The Netherlands has been reserved in its public statements of late, the German parliament’s decision on September 27 seemed to resonate positively with the French ambassador to North Macedonia, Christian Thimonier. In a statement made after the Bundestag decision, Thimonier expressed remarkable optimism, telling reporters that the country was “expecting a green light from our President [Macron]”. He added: “We share much on this topic with our German partners. We have a positive stand regarding your country and all of the efforts it did on regional level. We the French and the Germans know very well that much, much, more work needs to be done for the reforms on paper to be transferred in reality. “We will make a good cocktail between reality and expectations,” he concluded.

 

Albania may damage North Macedonia’s chances:

Loïc Tregoures, political science professor at the Catholic University of Lille, said that despite its shortcomings, North Macedonia is seen in a more positive light than Albania among EU member states. This owes much to its signing of a friendship treaty with neighbouring Bulgaria in 2017 and the landmark agreement with neighbouring Greece in 2018 over its name. “A green light for Skopje is almost certain,” he argued. He said the same could not be said for Tirana. “Albania suffers from very bad image that goes well beyond the reforms its government would implement or not. It may be unfair, but this is reality,” he told BIRN. But Tregoures thinks the German Bundestag resolution, which drew a difference between supporting almost unconditional EU talks with North Macedonia and a much more conditioned start for Albania, could be seen as a template for what may be agreed at the European Council. The German resolution was “a compromise within the [German ruling] coalition and an attempt to convince other member states like France or The Netherlands not to simply block Albania,” Tregoures said.

 

He argued that this model may prove acceptable to enlargement sceptics, “as the conditions set before giving a green light to Tirana are strong enough to postpone [accession talks] if nothing positive comes in the next few months”. However, the internal political process in The Netherlands, which runs through parliament, is trickier than it is in France, “where the government directly takes the decision”, Tregoures explained. Simonida Kacarska, head of the European Policy Institute in Skopje, an NGO, sees the current atmosphere as positive, but warns that there are no guarantees about to what will happen at the European Council meeting. Like Tregoures, she says that although the two countries are considered part of one enlargement “package”, problems with Albania need not be an obstacle for North Macedonia, as the “European Commission resolutions on both countries are separate and give enough space for distinction”. The question is what will happen in the unlikely scenario where France and The Netherlands agree to open talks with North Macedonia but not with Albania. Ker-Lindsay thinks Germany and the European Commission are unlikely to accept such a separation. “It could have a very negative effect, not just on Albania but also in Kosovo. It could well be seen as an example of anti-Albanian prejudice,” he maintained. “It is a difficult and delicate situation to address,” he added. “The EU is better served by opening negotiations with both countries. However, if talks can only open with one of them, it would be profoundly unfair if North Macedonia was denied the chance to start negotiations,” he continued.

 

Trust in EU integrity is on the line:

Tregoures said that for now, Albania and North Macedonia cannot do much to improve their standing in the short period left before the meeting. “This decision is going to be on the EU member states themselves,” he said. Ker-Lindsay added that if the EU does reject both countries, or further delays a decision, it will likely harm the EU’s long-term goals in the Western Balkans.

“Preventing the negotiations process could even make matters worse, as it would signal to [regional] leaders that there is no point even trying to initiate reforms,” he observed. “Starting accession talks with North Macedonia is a question of honour for the EU,” he continued. “The country reached a settlement with Greece on the name issue to facilitate its EU accession. It would be utterly unfair, having done that, to now face another rejection. “Any further delays to North Macedonia would also be extremely damaging for the EU’s credibility in the wider Western Balkans. It would also undermine the EU’s efforts to help resolve other disputes in the region, such as Kosovo-Serbia, and the political situation in Bosnia. Many would argue that the EU simply cannot be trusted.”