Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 10 January 2020
EU hopeful Albania, N. Macedonia membership talks in sight

By LORNE COOK Zagreb on Thursday. "Is the
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Af- methodology for the ac-
ter years of setbacks and cession process good or
disappointment, two Bal- not?"
kan countries' hopes for He said the EU commission
launching European Union is working on a paper con-
membership talks could be taining suggestions for ways
realized in coming weeks, to improve the "methodol-
according to the prime ogy" for joining the EU, plus
minister of Croatia, which a few concrete steps that
took over the EU's rotating the countries might quickly
presidency on Jan. 1. be able to take. No details
Albania and North Mace- were provided.
donia were meant to start Countries must negotiate
formal accession talks with 35 so-called chapters, or
the EU last year. French policy areas, to join the EU,
President Emmanuel Ma- including financial, agricul-
cron blocked the under- ture, transport, energy, so-
taking in October and said cial and justice policy. The
he would continue to do so process can be drawn out.
until the process for admit- For example, Croatia,
ting countries to the 28-na- which joined the EU in 2013,
tion bloc was reformed. started its negotiations at
Macron opposed opening President of the European Council Charles Michel, right, is welcomed by Croatia's prime minister the same time as Turkey
the talks despite warnings Andrej Plenkovic in Zagreb, Croatia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020. but Ankara is still struggling
that further delays to North Associated Press to become a member and
Macedonia and Albania's that's unlikely to happen
membership quests could elections, which are set for and possibly finalize by late European Commission, had anytime soon.
undermine stability in the April 12. March a date for Albania recommended starting the Speaking to reporters with
volatile Balkans region. In But Croatian Prime Minister and North Macedonia to process last year. Plenkovic, European Coun-
response to the October Andrej Plenkovic and senior start accession negotia- "France had certain res- cil President Charles Michel
delay, North Macedonia's Croatian officials appear tions, which can take sev- ervations that were more said steps should be taken
leader stepped down and confident that they can eral years. of a conceptual nature," to "modernize the enlarge-
called snap parliamentary meet Macron's demands The EU's executive arm, the Plenkovic told reporters in ment process." q

France sees more nationwide protests of pension changes

Associated Press schools were closed.
PARIS (AP) — French rail Unions have also called on
workers, teachers, doctors, workers to block road ac-
lawyers and others joined cess to major ports, includ-
a fourth day of nationwide ing in the southern city of
protests and strikes Thurs- Marseille.
day to denounce President Philippe Martinez, head of
Emmanuel Macron's plans hard-left CGT union, said
to overhaul the pension "there are many people
system. on strike" yet the govern-
Street protests were staged ment doesn't appear "will-
in Paris and other French ing to discuss and take
cities as the government into account the opinion
and labor unions pushed of unions." Talks between
on with negotiations aimed the government and labor
at ending railway strikes unions resumed Tuesday
over the proposed chang- but no compromise has
es that started on Dec. 5. been found. A new round
The Paris march started of negotiations focusing on
from the Republique square the financing of the new
in the city center and was pension system is sched-
accompanied by a large uled for Friday. Macron has
police presence. The Elysee asked his government to
presidential palace was Protesters shout during a demonstration Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020 in Paris. find a quick compromise
barricaded as protesters Associated Press with reform-minded unions.
were due to head toward So far, the government is
the area. tion winded down, 20 dem- The Eiffel Tower was closed SNCF, said about one-third sticking to its plan to raise
Unions said the protest onstrators and 16 police to visitors as employees of its workers were on strike the full retirement age from
in the capital attracted officers had been injured, joined the protest. Paris Thursday, the 36th day of 62 to 64, the most criticized
370,000 demonstrators, according to the Paris po- Metro traffic was severely the strike by railway work- part of the proposals.
while French consulting firm lice department. Officers disrupted, except for one ers. Three high-speed trains The changes aim to unify
Occurrence estimated a made two dozens arrests automated line running out of five were in opera- France's 42 different pen-
crowd of 44,000. amid occasional flares of normally. tion. Regional trains were sion schemes into a single
By the time the demonstra- violence, Paris police said. The national rail company, also affected. and many one. q