The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said on Tuesday 4 June that he hoped the decision of the Member States on the opening of accession negotiations to the European Union with North Macedonia could be taken during the summer.
“The intention of the Commission is to do everything to have a definite decision being in summer time”, he explained to the press after a meeting in Brussels with Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. He pointed out that the Romanian Presidency had put the issue on the agenda of the ‘General Affairs’ Council on 18 June for a “first debate”.
Decisions concerning potential candidate countries are usually taken at the June Council, but the Bundestag must decide on the Commission's progress reports, which were only published on 29 May (see EUROPE 12266/3), and the time limit may be too short.
In addition, while some countries are still reportedly reluctant to agree to the opening of negotiations, the President of the Commission specified that any decision must be taken on the basis of objective criteria and tangible results. “For us, the Republic of North Macedonia is ready for the next step”, he explained, recalling the agreements with Greece and Bulgaria, but also the reforms concerning the judicial system, intelligence services, public service and progress in the fight against corruption and organised crime.
Mr Juncker said he was ready to do everything possible to ensure that the accession negotiations would be opened for Skopje.
“We are ready to start negotiations”, Mr Zaev pleaded. “The ball is in the Member States' court, and decisions about membership must be based on merit and the facts”, he added.
Asked about the risk that the Prespa Agreement will be abandoned if a new government comes to power in Greece - New Democracy, which could lead the parliamentary elections, is opposed to the Agreement - Mr Juncker said that an agreement had been concluded between two countries and not two governments.
Mr Zaev believes that any political leader will support an agreement that is beneficial to both countries. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)