27/11/2019 (Agence Europe) – Speaking in Strasbourg on Wednesday, 27 November, Ursula von der Leyen, President-elect of the European Commission, said that there should be no changes to the accession process for Albania and North Macedonia, both of which are waiting to begin accession negotiations. Although she told the media that she welcomed the fact that review of the procedures was open to discussion (see EUROPE 12375/23), Von der Leyen said that she believed that accession requirements had been established in Skopje and Tirana and so the two countries “deserved not to have the rules changed in midstream”. She did, however, consider it legitimate for the Council of the EU to raise these matters. (CG)