The Croatian Presidency of the European Union has proposed the opening of EU accession talk with Albania and North Macedonia in March 2020.
It is also proposed that the first intergovernmental conference for accession talks is held immediately after the European Commission presents a negotiating framework for both countries as soon as possible and no later than June, according to draft conclusions that were made available to Hina, Croatian News Agency.
The Croatian Presidency’s draft conclusion is expected to be adopted on March 24 by the General Affairs Council, which is made up of the European affairs ministers from all EU member states.
If adopted at this stage, the opening of talks with Albania and North Macedonia would be approved by the European Council, which is made up by heads of state or government of EU member countries, at a summit meeting on March 26-27. However, the said European Council meeting has been postponed to a later date yet to be decided.
The draft conclusions presented by the Croatian Presidency invite the European Commission to submit, without delay and no later than June, a proposal for a framework for negotiations with both counties, which prescribes the principles and path of accession talks.
Once the framework of negotiations is adopted by each EU member state, the first intergovernmental accession conference should be called as soon as possible. The conference practically marks the beginning of talks.
