Once again, the Member States of the European Union have postponed their decision to open accession negotiations to the European Union with North Macedonia and Albania. They met again in October to, among other things, allow the German Bundestag to take a decision.
In June 2018, the ministers had indicated that they would meet in June 2019 to make a decision. But the deliberately convoluted decision allowed Member States in favour of opening up to accept it as a fait accompli, whereas the more sceptical countries considered that it merely gave them another opportunity to discuss it (see EUROPE 12049/1).
“In light of the short time available (to consider the Commission's reports, published at the end of May) and the importance of the matter, the Council will revert to the issue with a view to reaching a clear and substantive decision as soon as possible and no later than October 2019”, the EU Council's conclusions highlighted.
While the wording in no way prejudges a positive decision in the autumn, the Commissioner for Accession Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, was, as usual, rather optimistic, while acknowledging that he could not give any guarantees. “I am extremely confident that there will be a green light in October”, he explained about North Macedonia. According to him, the few months between now and October “can be useful to change the opinion of one or other Member State” concerning Albania. In particular, the Dutch Parliament voted against opening the negotiations for Albania's accession to the EU (see EUROPE 12274/19).
According to one diplomat, the vague wording adopted by the EU Council also avoids making the Bundestag think that the decision has been pre-empted. The EU Council is expected to take a decision on enlargement in September. According to German Deputy Minister Michael Roth, the Commission published its reports very late, which did not allow for a decision by the Bundestag before the parliamentary recess.
While some Member States were in favour of decoupling the decisions on Albania and North Macedonia, the same text of expectations was ultimately adopted for both countries. However, the EU Council repeatedly welcomes the “historic agreement” between Skopje and Athens signed at Prespa. The decoupling of decisions concerning the two countries could take place in the autumn, as some Member States are more inclined to open negotiations with Skopje than with Albania.
Bosnia. In addition, the conclusions refer to Bosnia and Herzegovina. In its progress report, the Commission had delivered its opinion on the Bosnian application for membership, recommending that the EU Council examine this opinion and the follow-up that has been done in 14 priorities for action in the fields of democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights and public administration reform at all levels, after the formation of governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina (see EUROPE 12266/3). In its conclusions, the EU Council takes note of the Commission's opinion and states that it will continue to examine this document and return to this issue “later this year”. It also encourages Bosnia and Herzegovina to “proceed without further delay with the formation of its government in order to pursue the necessary reforms”.
The question of enlargement is expected to be discussed at the European Council on 20 and 21 June.
See the conclusions: https://bit.ly/2IS4k0G (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)