“Today, the European Affairs Ministers of the EU met, via teleconference, in a grim atmosphere owing to the thousands of victims in Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain. We all expressed our solidarity in this trying time and the need for more coordination on the European level to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Specifically, the green light was given for EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, with the approval of the Draft Conclusions, which will be referred to Thursday’s teleconference meeting of the European Council, on the level of national leaders.
Our decision to open the accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia reaffirms the strategic Thessaloniki Agenda of 2003. At the end of this process, our country will border on two more EU member states.
In the text on the opening of North Macedonia and Albania’s accession negotiations, there is provision, on the one hand, for North Macedonia’s respecting the articles of the Prespa Agreement and, on the other hand, Albania’s compliance with the obligation to respect the rights of the Greek national minority, including the census and the right to self-identification, as well as registration of property. We will closely monitor the progress and compliance of both countries in meeting their commitments.
This is a decisive step in the European perspective of both neighbouring countries – a step that safeguards Greece’s positions. At the same time, the EU is confirming in practice its decisive role in the Western Balkans region – a fact that constitutes a powerful political message. We congratulate the Croatian Presidency, which got this result under difficult conditions.
It is an important day for the EU, but we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that Europe today, united as never before, must continue to do battle to combat COVID-19.
We can do it!”
March 24, 2020