Enlargement
North Macedonia nears accession talks, Albania falling behind
Member states will on Tuesday (18 June) postpone a decision on opening accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, most likely until September, as almost all capitals are prepared to green light Skopje while Tirana still remains a ‘no-go’ for a few, EU officials and diplomats told EURACTIV.
Transforming words into deeds – the Visegrad Group and Western Balkans’ EU integration
All Visegrad Group countries vocally support the enlargement of the EU and NATO, with a focus on integrating the Western Balkan (WB) countries. But how can those words be transformed into deeds?
Will Brussels turn its back – again – on the Balkans?
Will the EU honour its word to Tirana and Skopje or will Brussels – not for the first time – leave the Western Balkans stewing in its own juice? All eyes are on the reaction of EU foreign ministers to last week's inflammatory rhetoric by two Balkan leaders, writes Denis MacShane.
North Macedonia president: We need date for EU talks before autumn
Decoupling North Macedonia and Albania’s EU path, by giving the green light to the former and holding the start of accession talks for the latter is not great, but is the only way forward, North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview during his visit to Brussels on Thursday (13 June).
Thirteen members prod ‘old EU’ to respect enlargement, support Skopje, Tirana
The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network.
GLOBSEC Forum: ‘No reason to protest, people have a great life’, Babis says
As GLOBSEC's 2019 forum in Bratislava kicked off last week, EURACTIV went along to listen to world leaders from politics, civil society and business, on the EU’s place amid unstable political contexts. Here are the main talking points from the Saturday forum.
LEAK: EU’s five-year plan doubles down on protecting borders
EU leaders want to focus on migration and protection of external borders, or the "integrity of our physical space", over the next five years, according to a draft of the so-called strategic agenda obtained by EURACTIV. Economy and climate action rank second and third.
Europe’s ambitious but uncertain future on show at Bratislava forum
As Globsec’s 2019 forum in Bratislava kicked off earlier this week, EURACTIV went along to listen to world leaders from politics, civil society and business on the Future of Europe. Here we present a summary of the main talking points in the field, across the first two days.
Turkey’s stalled membership will define the future and meaning of the European Union
The EU cultivates the impression that it is desperately cheerleading Ankara’s accession, only to be disappointed. In fact, letting Turkey join would entail a decision over the future of the European Union which no one, for now, seems ready to make, writes Faisal Al Yafai.
Enlargement debate: Western Balkans, torn between hope and outrage
With enlargement being a “hot potato” for EU institutions, EURACTIV addressed the issue in a debate on Tuesday (5 June). Diplomats and journalists talked freely about the perceived reluctance of some member states, but also about existing real internal obstacles.
North Macedonia en course to join NATO, awaits decision on EU bid
While NATO accession is just within reach for North Macedonia, its bid to join the EU still hangs in the balance and will be discussed by member states later this month. A thumbs-down from the EU could easily topple the...
Police, protesters clash in Albania, US condemns the violence
Police in the Albanian capital Tirana on Sunday (2 June) fired tear gas and water canon at demonstrators demanding the resignation of socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama.
EU, Russia, US send envoys to Moldova as possible pro-Russian coalition emerges
Moldova, a blind spot on the European map for the past years, is expected to receive three high-level officials on Monday (3 June), including EU enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, amid signs that the country's nascent government could lean more towards Russia than the West.
Commission: Turkey has continued to move away from the EU
In its flagship annual report, the Commission warned Turkey that it has continued to move further away from the European Union, with serious backsliding in the areas of the rule of law and fundamental rights.
Commission recommends opening accession talks with Albania, North Macedonia
The European Commission recommended on Wednesday (29 May) opening accession talks with two Western Balkan countries, Albania and North Macedonia, saying they had “embraced the opportunity and delivered on reforms”. But this will need to be approved by the member states....
Serbia places forces on alert after Kosovo police operation in Serb-populated north
Serbia ordered its troops on full alert on Tuesday (28 May) and Russia accused Kosovo of provocation after a Kosovan police anti-crime operation in a region populated mainly by Serbs led to clashes.
Albania’s riotous politics rattle EU dreams
Molotov cocktails in the streets and a mass resignation in parliament -- Albania's volatile political scene is exploding just as its European future is on the table, threatening Tirana's dreams of joining the bloc.
Macron and the EU enlargement make-believe
French politicians’ fear of losing votes in the elections jeopardizes the dream of uniting Europe, writes Srdjan Cviijic.
#EU2019 – Though not a member, Serbia eyes EU polls carefully
EU candidate Serbia is carefully watching this week's European Parliament election as its result may impact Belgrade's progress towards EU membership. Though Brussels is not expected to abandon enlargement, the process is almost certain to slow down, at least this year.
Montenegro PM: ‘We are looking for a new opportunity with the EU’
EU membership candidate Montenegro is carrying "a heavy legacy, plagued with low standards and weak institutions", but it has already made progress and its EU orientation is "clear and strong", its prime minister told EURACTIV Germany in an interview.
Domestic challenges overshadow ten-year anniversary of EU’s Eastern Partnership
The strategic interests of Ukraine and the EU are "exactly the same", European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday (14 May) on the sidelines of a jubilee summit marking a decade of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) in Brussels.
Kosovo’s Haradinaj wants Mogherini out of dialogue with Belgrade
Kosovo PM Ramush Haradinaj has asked that EU diplomacy chief Federica Mogherini be excluded from the Belgrade-Priština normalisation dialogue, after saying earlier that under her guidance, the presidents of Kosovo and Serbia, as well as Albania's prime minister had "probably" negotiated a division of Kosovo.
Albanian protesters hurl petrol bombs, seek snap polls
Albanian opposition protesters hurled petrol bombs at the entrance of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office on Saturday (11 May), after three months of demonstrations calling for him to quit over alleged election fraud and corruption.
Montenegro sentences Russians, opposition leaders for failed 2016 coup
A Montenegrin court sentenced 14 defendants, including two opposition leaders and two Russians, to prison terms on Thursday (9 May) over of a failed coup in 2016 that aimed to overthrow the government and install a pro-Russian alliance.