The first discussion, held at the level of Member States' ambassadors to the EU on Wednesday 2 October, on the opening of EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, failed to reach a consensus on the issue.
“Nothing has really changed”, summarised one source to EUROPE, while in June, the Member States had agreed to come together in October for a decision on the subject.
While a majority of Member States are in favour of this opening, several of them are still reportedly reluctant. Thus, France and Denmark do not have a position on the issue, according to this source, who stated that France has not shown “much optimism”. The Netherlands, for its part, is rather critical of opening to Albania, which the Dutch Parliament opposed last June (see EUROPE 12274/19). And while the German Bundestag voted in favour of openness (see EUROPE 12337/26), it made the first accession conference with Tirana subject to nine conditions connected to the rule of law.
Discussions are expected to continue on Wednesday 9 October, again at the ambassadorial level, with a view to a decision at the ‘General Affairs’ Council on 15 October and the European Council on 17 and 18 October. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)