EU Ministers Adopt Conclusions, Skopje and Tirana Don’t Receive Date

There is no good news from Brussels. After an all-day meeting, the General Affairs Council of the European Union adopted the conclusions on enlargement, but there is no date for negotiations for North Macedonia. As expected, Bulgaria confirmed the veto of the General Affairs Council. Although the word blockade was not mentioned at all at the press conference, EU President Gasper Dovzan said he hoped the process would continue with the new Bulgarian government, but did not specify when. The first intergovernmental conferences with North Macedonia and Albania are expected as soon as possible, the conclusions state. “The Council looks forward to holding the first intergovernmental conferences with North Macedonia and Albania as soon as possible after the Council approves the negotiating framework,” was stated at the conclusions on enlargement adopted by the ministers and representatives of the European Union member states at the meeting.