EU to open accession talks with Albania, North Macedonia

Ministers of the European Union (EU) member states on Tuesday greenlighted accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia.

"Very pleased that EU member states today reached political agreement on opening of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia. I wholeheartedly congratulate both countries," Oliver Varhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, said on Twitter.

The greenlight is a result of a videoconference of EU member states' ministers for European affairs.

In October 2019, both a meeting of the Council of European Union -- made up by ministers of EU member states, and a European Council meeting -- made up by heads of state or government of EU member states, failed to greenlight the opening of accession talks.

At the time, France led objections within the EU to the start of the talks, saying the world's largest trading bloc should strengthen its existing policies and institutions before adding new members.

In February, French President Emmanuel Macron signaled a shift in stance in saying he would allow North Macedonia and Albania to begin membership talks if the bloc's executive -- the European Commission -- gave them a positive review in March. The European Commission did so in March.

Opening talks with and eventually including Albania and North Macedonia would send a strong signal that the EU is paying attention to the Western Balkans.

"This also sends a loud and clear message to #WesternBalkans: your future is in EU," Varhelyi said on Twitter.

David Sassoli, the President of the European Parliament, said on Twitter: "The European Parliament has always supported the Western Balkan's European future. We need strong bonds with our neighbours, now more than ever."