Dutch newspaper AD reports today that the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok has stated that the Dutch government is against opening EU accession negotiations with Albania. According to MFA Blok, “Albania still has a long way to go.” The Dutch government is more positive about the progress made by North Macedonia.
Blok, however, refused to completely shut the door for Albania. In an exchange with MP Pieter Omtzigt, who in the past has raised critical issues regarding Albania and was part of a parliamentary mission to Albania in 2018, Blok indicated that the Dutch government would be willing to negotiate on European Council level.
Dutch Parliament is divided on the question of opening accession negotiations with Albania and North-Macedonia, although the main parties CDA (of Omtzigt) and VVD (of Blok and Prime Minister Mark Rutte) have not yet decided on their position.
Recently, Dutch Parliament voted to ask the European Commission to suspend the Schengen visa waiver for Albanian citizens. The European Commission is currently evaluating that request.
