Brussels could potentially press ahead with talks with Albania over membership of the EU even as negotiations with North Macedonia stall, according to Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi.
North Macedonia and Albania’s bids for EU membership have always been coupled together, with both nations preparing for negotiations to begin on parallel tracks. But with North Macedonia’s bid currently blocked by Bulgaria, Várhelyi suggested that this situation could be amended.
“If we run into difficulties again with North Macedonia, which means that we are unsuccessful [in] convincing Bulgarian and North-Macedonia [of] a mutually agreeable solution, then the question [is] whether we can move forward with Albania only. And we will have to consider that question,” he said.
Asked if a formal “decoupling” was an option, he replied: “It might be an option, yes.”
