European Affairs Ministers are expected to give their agreement to the opening of EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on Tuesday during a video conference.
“In light of the progress made on reforms and the fulfilment of the conditions set unanimously by the EU Council in June 2018, the EU Council, subject to the approval of the European Council, decides to open accession negotiations” with Tirana and Skopje, says draft conclusions obtained by EUROPE, dated 20 March.
This opening will take place on the basis of the renewed methodology proposed on 5 February by the European Commission and endorsed by the EU Council (see EUROPE 12419/2).
In taking its decision, the EU Council was guided by the European Commission's progress reports of 2 March (see EUROPE 12437/7) and welcomed the fact that both countries had demonstrated their “determination to advance the EU reform agenda” and achieved “tangible and sustainable results”.
The conclusions do not mention any specific date for the opening of accession negotiations at an Intergovernmental Conference.
The EU Council only invites the Commission to present a proposal for a negotiating box, adding that “the first Intergovernmental Conference should be convened as soon as possible after the adoption of the negotiating box by the EU Council”. Earlier draft conclusions called for the presentation of the negotiating box “without delay and no later than June”.
Additional conditions for Albania
The EU Council set a number of additional conditions for the first Intergovernmental Conference with Albania: Tirana will need to make further progress on the Rule of law. These conditions were introduced at the request of Germany and the Netherlands, according to one source.
Albania will need to adopt electoral reform in full compliance with OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, ensure further implementation of judicial reform, including the functioning of the Constitutional Court and the High Court, and finalise the establishment of specialised structures for the fight against corruption and organised crime. It will also need to further strengthen the fight against corruption and organised crime. “The fight against the phenomenon of unfounded asylum applications, the guarantee of repatriation and the amendment of the media law, in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission, remain important priorities”, the draft conclusions adds. The Commission will be required to report on these issues, “including progress made”, when the negotiating box is presented, the document says.
Furthermore, the EU Council specifies that the negotiating box it will adopt will have to reflect the fact that Albania has successfully addressed the five key priorities requested by the EU, and gives examples.
According to one diplomat, if the EU Council agrees, a written procedure would be launched to formally adopt the decision and could end as early as Wednesday or Thursday. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant, with Mathieu Bion)