04/03/2019 (Agence Europe) – The Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, suggested on Monday 4 March that reports on the progress of candidate countries (Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey) or potential candidates (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo) to the EU could be published after the European elections, in order not to be politicised. “We are trying to remove all possible obstacles that must hamper neutral debate, [...] which is not affected by European elections”, he explained, adding that the Commission was considering publishing the reports “a little bit later than usually”. “Our publication will be before the inauguration of the new European Parliament”, on 2 July 2019, added Mr Hahn. According to the Commissioner, delaying publication to the post-election period will allow for “a fact-based debate and allow everyone to look [at the situation] from an objective point of view”. (CG)