Borrell: Clear Stand Exists for Skopje and Tirana to Start Talks Right Away

Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, has called for the negotiations for EU membership with Skopje and Tirana to start right away. As he said on Monday, the pressure on Skopje and Sofia to solve the dispute will continue. Borrell asked for the veto to be lifted before the end of the French Presidency. As Borrell added, there is a need for reconciliation in the Western Balkans. He highlighted that a clear stand existed that negotiations with North Macedonia should start right away. “I want to highlight this is a personal pledge of mine as the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,” he noted. In his view, if a solution isn’t found to the Bulgarian veto, that will be a gift to Russia, which will be given a reason to reach even more.