Today, the EU General Affairs Council approved start of accession negotiations with the Republic of North Macedonia. The decision was taken during today’s video conference held by the General Affairs Council at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, hosted by Zagreb. This long-awaited news was posted on Twitter by Germany’s Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth and Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi.
“Good news in these gloomy times: finally green light in today’s Council video conference for opening of EU accession talks with our friends from North Macedonia and Albania. Gongrats to Tirana and Skopje”, wrote Roth on his Twitter account.
Varhelyi also congratulated both countries. “Very pleased that the EU member states today reached political agreement to opening of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia. I wholeheartedly congratulate both countries”, wrote Varhelyi.
This afternoon, the news on approved start of negotiations with the European Union was shared with Macedonian citizens at the special press conference held by Interim Prime Minister Oliver Spasovski, Deputy Prime Minister Bujar Osmani and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov.
The unconditional approval to start accession negotiations with the European Union is granted after 15 years since the country was given the candidate status.