The European Council will not discuss conclusions or a date for opening accession talks with Macedonia at its meeting scheduled for June 27-28, state news agency MIA reported. The Irish presidency announced that the EU Summit will only discuss the possible setting of a date for accession negotiations with Serbia. MIA quoted an unnamed source as saying that the EU member states voiced a stance that now it is not the time a progress to be made about Macedonia.
The political crisis in the Balkan country has most likely influenced this position. The instability deteriorated significantly after the December 2012 events in the parliament and the tensions eased at the beginning of March following EU-sponsored talks. In addition, the lack of progress in the area of good neighbourly relations remains the key obstacle on Macedonia’s road to EU membership.
Macedonia was granted a candidate status in 2005. So far, the European Commission has made four recommendations for launching accession talks with Macedonia, but Greece has been vetoing the adoption of the decision due to the name dispute.
Meanwhile, MIA reports that the setting of a date for accession negotiations with Macedonia will be discussed in the autumn and a possible decision may be made at the EU Summit in December.
Related Articles
Orban’s new illiberal axis
Amid the furore over Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s visit to Tbilisi immediately after the allegedly stolen October 26 general election, a visit by the country’s President Tamas ... more
Green loans in North Macedonia's banking sector up 14.9% y/y in 2Q24
The growth of green loans in North Macedonia’s commercial banks continued in the second quarter of 2024, with an annual increase of 14.9% or by MKD2.6bn (€42.3mn), the central bank said on August ... more
North Macedonia’s Komercijalna Banka launches takeover bid for Stopanska Banka Bitola
North Macedonia's largest bank, Komercijalna banka, announced on August 26 that it has published the takeover bid for local Stopanska banka Bitola. The offered price is set at MKD3,200 (€52) per ... more
Most Read
-
Putin to skip Rio BRICS summit over ICC warrant as Xi signals no-show
13 days ago
-
Turkey yet to prove rare earth deposit has suggested “giant” potential despite reported processing talks with China
10 months ago
-
Uproar in Mongolia as development bank reveals scale of risky loans and NPLs
3 years ago