EC urges Bulgaria and North Macedonia to resolve their dispute outside the accession process

The European Parliament urges the Council to open EU membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, especially in the geostrategic context of the war in Ukraine.

In two reports adopted on Thursday assessing the progress of Albania and North Macedonia towards EU membership, Parliament asks the Council to formally open accession negotiations with the two countries, noting the geostrategic context of relations with Russia and its aggression against Ukraine. EP members call on the EU to critically assess the historically important security implications of such a decision for the stability and unity of the European continent and the Western Balkans.

Although both countries have met the conditions set by the European Council and achieved sustainable results, the Council has failed to open accession negotiations with them, MEPs say. This has undermined public attitudes towards the EU and poses a serious danger to enlargement policy as a whole, the report says. The MEPs encourage Bulgaria and North Macedonia to resolve their cultural and historical dispute separately from North Macedonia's accession process.

Albania - a reliable and committed strategic partner

EP members appreciated Albania's strategic orientation and its unwavering commitment to European integration and expressed their clear support for the country's democratic changes and aspirations for EU membership. They call on Albania to continue and step up its efforts towards more effective functioning of the judicial system, to strengthen democracy, the rule of law and the economy. It should also give more rights to the civil society, fight corruption and organised crime, guarantee media freedom and ensure the protection of minority rights, including the rights of the LGBTIQ community.

EP Rapporteur for Albania Isabel Santos (S&D, Portugal) said: "Albania remains a fully reliable and committed strategic partner. It continues to move forward with fundamental EU-related reforms and is fulfilling and maintaining conditions for starting accession talks. It is only fair that the Council finally agrees on opening the long-overdue accession negotiations with Albania, not least in the face of mounting geostrategic challenges."

The report was adopted by 519 votes in favour, 52 against and 28 abstentions.

North Macedonia - The best result of the democratic transition in the Western Balkans region

Parliament commends North Macedonia's continued efforts to strengthen the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and minority rights, the fight against corruption and organised crime, public administration reform and the strengthening of media freedom. The report also notes the risks of growing economic and energy dependence on China and Russia and warns that dependence on investment loans financed by China increases the region's vulnerability.

The report also calls for historic reconciliation based on a defined shared history, as provided for in the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation between Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

Rapporteur Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Renew, Bulgaria) said: "North Macedonia has demonstrated the best results in the area of democratic transition in the entire Western Balkans region and is fully in line with EU foreign policy in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Given the wider geostrategic context and the country's sustained results, we call for the long overdue accession negotiations to be formally launched. I welcome the positive commitment to resolve outstanding bilateral issues and urge Bulgaria and North Macedonia to find a mutually acceptable solution without delay."

The report was adopted by 508 votes in favour, 56 against and 35 abstentions.