About: EU accession
Visegrad 4, North Macedonia in last-ditch effort to change French enlargement veto
In a last-ditch effort on Wednesday evening (16 October) before a decisive EU summit, the Visegrad Four and North Macedonian officials tried to sway the enlargement mood in Brussels.
Turkey, Russia and China covet Western Balkans as EU puts enlargement on hold
Unless the EU accession process of the Western Balkans picks up the pace, the six countries of the region may examine alternatives for their countries’ external orientation, including boosting relations with China, Russia, Turkey and the Gulf States, a report...
Commission: Suspending visa-free travel for Albanians should not be decided lightly
The European Commission said on Monday (3 June) it would assess a request by the Netherlands to suspend visa-free travel for Albanians, adding that such a decision should not be taken lightly.
North Macedonia minister: NATO, not EU, saved name change deal
Without the prospect of joining NATO, the North Macedonia name change deal with Greece (Prespa Agreement) would have been dead because the EU side has not been delivering on its promises, North Macedonian deputy PM and defence minister, Radmila Šekerinska, has said.
Europe needs Balkans and Balkans need Europe, says Albania PM
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama calls for clearer enlargement prospects for the Western Balkans, saying it would be a "huge mistake" for the EU not to continue its engagement with the countries in the region. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Western Balkan enlargement will catalyse a stronger Europe
Addressing the reforms needed to prepare the six Balkan countries for EU accession can be cathartic in effect, and reinvigorate the European Union, writes Andrey Kovatchev.
Bulgaria and Macedonia start removing hurdles to relations
During new Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's visit to Sofia on Tuesday (20 June), it was announced that Bulgaria and Macedonia will soon sign a bilateral treaty, removing some obstacles to Skopje’s bid to join NATO and the EU.
Talking truth to Turkey
Ludwig Schulz looks at how scientific analysis can help counter President Erdoğan’s fake narrative of Turkey’s thriving democracy and why the European Union should reconsider its policy towards EU accession countries.
Austria left disappointed by Bratislava
The 27 member states that attended the Bratislava summit all had different priorities. Austria seems to have left Slovakia without any real movement on any of theirs, as little has changed regarding Turkey’s membership bid and CETA. EURACTIV Germany reports....
Austrian chancellor wants EU to end accession talks with Turkey
Austria's Chancellor Christian Kern on Wednesday called on the European Union to end membership talks with Turkey in the wake of a massive government crackdown following a failed coup.
Bosnia clears last obstacles to progress towards EU, wins IMF deal
Bosnia's rival leaders agreed on Sunday (31 August) on the key conditions set by the European Union for accepting the country's membership application and cleared the way for winning a much needed IMF loan deal, which was delayed three weeks ago.
What’s in a name?: Macedonia’s problems go much deeper
Deadlines continue to come and go with wearisome rapidity in the ongoing political crisis between the two majority ethnic political parties of Macedonia, writes Richard Howitt MEP.
The Western Balkans tinderbox
The EU urgently needs to re-commit to the Western Balkans in 2016, as profound social discontent may trigger new regional crises, writes John O’Brennan.
Bosnia and Herzegovina to apply for EU membership early
Bosnia and Herzegovina will submit its application for EU membership in the New Year, bringing up its planned submission date from January 2017. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Turkish Ambassador: EU accession is our strategic choice
Turkey upholds “European values” much better than some EU countries, the Turkish Ambassador to Poland, Yusuf Ziya Özcan, told EURACTIV Poland.
Commission could spend EU funds better in Serbia, auditors say
EU funds spent on Serbia's reforms were managed efficiently by the European Commission, the European Court of Auditors' special report published today (13 January), concludes. But future projects could be better planned and executed, said the auditors. VideoPromoted content
Turkish EU minister: It is time for the EU to stop being prisoner of the Cyprus question
The Cyprus issue should not take over on EU-Turkish relations. The EU should “look at the forest” where there are “huge benefits”, Turkey’s EU affairs minister Volkan Bozk?r told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
EU criticised for foot dragging on Kosovo
As tensions rise again in Kosovo after the killing of a Serbian politician in the North, the country's minister in charge of EU affairs, Vlora Çitaku, called on the EU to be more “responsive” towards her newly-formed state. VideoPromoted content
Serbia-Kosovo final talks end with no deal
Serbian and Kosovar leaders left Brussels early on Wednesday without a deal after more than 12 hours of discussions. Aimed at normalising the relations between both sides, Pristine and Belgrade have held 8 rounds of EU-mediated talks but have so far failed to reach an agreement. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 with the backing of the West. But Serbia has so far refused to recognise the secession, due to concerns about the large Serbian community living in the north.