European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policies and Enlargement, Johannes Hahn said today that EU leaders did not recognize the progress made by Albania and North Macedonia.
“EU leaders failed to live up to their commitment to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania at the EU Council. This is a matter of extreme disappointment. EU ministers now need to clarify how serious their commitment is to the Western Balkans’ EU integration. I thank all those who last last night put all their weight on achieving a decision of great strategic importance for the EU and fought for sending a signal of hope to the citizens of the Western Balkans. As said already in Luxembourg: This is not a moment of glory for the EU. To refuse the acknowledgement of proven progress will have negative consequences, including the risk of destabilization of the Western Balkans, with full impact on the EU. It is our responsibility now to stand with the countries whose citizens are rightly disappointed to the bone and will continue to do everything in my power to support them. The EU integration of the Western Balkans is and remains an important strategic policy, in our mutual interest”, Hahn wrote on social media. TemA