Page 52 - bne Magazine August 2022

52 I Southeast Europe bne August 2022
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Prime Minister of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovačevski, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. / European Union, 2022
Albania and North Macedonia launch EU accession talks
bne IntelIiNews
Albania and North Macedonia launched EU accession talks on July 19 after waiting for two years for Bulgaria to lift the veto on the start of talks with Skopje that also blocked Albania, which was coupled in the process.
The doors for North Macedonia’s EU negotiations were opened after the country accepted the French proposal aimed at ending the deadlock on
July 16. That led to the lifting of the Bulgarian veto, imposed over language and history issues. The proposal was accepted by the parliament in Skopje was despite protests and rejection
of the proposal by the opposition, which see it harmful to the country’s national interests.
“What a historic moment. Today, Albania and North Macedonia are opening the accession negotiations to the European Union, and I am so glad to be here with you,” President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said.
North Macedonia’s PM Dimitar Kovacevski congratulated the citizens of North Macedonia on the launch of the EU accession talks.
“They are the most deserving of today’s event. They did not surrender to any challenge, to mountains of difficult concessions and compromises, in order to fulfil their dream of belonging to the European family,” Kovacevski said.
Across the Atlantic, US President Joe
Biden welcomed the start of accession talks with the two Western Balkan countries given the current geopolitical context.
“In a moment when Russia has shattered peace in Europe, it is more important than ever to support the aspiration for a Europe whole, free and at peace. A democratic, secure and prosperous Western Balkans remains essential to this vision,” Biden said according to a White House statement.
17 years of waiting
North Macedonia, previously known
as Macedonia, has been waiting for this moment for 17 years, after it got candidate status in 2005. The country’s progress was blocked first due to the Greek veto, which was removed with
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