Ursula von der Leyen: Skopje and Tirana have Met Criteria

Adoption of the new methodology and a start of negotiations for Skopje and Tirana are processes that should be taking place simultaneously, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. During the visit to Zagreb, she stated on Friday that both Macedonia and Albania had met criteria, adding that the EU had to deliver on its promises. “We should find the way that the parallel process for North Macedonia and Albania is that the door is open and that they can start the accession talks,” she stated, adding that the proposal for the new methodology for EU membership would be presented soon. Croatian PM Andrej Plenkovic described enlargement as one of the main priorities of his country’s EU Presidency. He pledged for new dynamism and unblocking of the negotiations with Skopje and Torana. At Friday’s meeting, Croatia’s Government and the Commission agreed that they shared the same priorities in order to increase the EU’s influence at a global level.