‘There is no support for decoupling’ - Albanian and North Macedonian EU membership

EU High Representative Josep Borrell met with North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev today (11 May) and reassured him, despite recent comments by Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, that there has never been any intention of decoupling North Macedonia and Albania in the accession process. 

Foreign ministers had a long discussion about the Western Balkans at yesterday’s foreign affairs council and it was agreed that the region has a key geostrategic role for the European Union. Borrell said: “Our commitment to the Western Balkans needs to be very visible and we should leave no doubt in this respect.” Borrell added that co-operation needed to be wide ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines, economic co-operation, connectivity, and how to tackle external influence and disinformation.

Zaev described discussions as fruitful - he said Macedonians “breathe, live and grow with European ideas and values. We know there is no other way but the European way. We are committed to our common values and on the implementation of European Union standards and criteria. And we don't want to stand and wait anymore.”

Zaev said that North Macedonia had fulfilled its obligations and that now it's time for the European Union to deliver. 

Following today’s General Affairs Council of Europe ministers, Secretary of State for European Affairs of Portugal Ana Paula Zacarias said that ministers had discussed how they could organize an intergovernmental conference during their presidency which ends in June. She also said that she was in discussions with Bulgaria, which is threatening to block accession.  

Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič said that North Macedonia had met all the requirements, but that there would be a strong emphasis on the rule of law, with the new methodology for accession. He also said that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had applauded North Macedonia’s progress and her hope that the EU could move forward as quickly as possible. 

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