Statements by Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi over a possible decoupling of North Macedonia and Albania on the EU path have caused a storm of displeasure within the EU and among connoisseurs of the situation in Southeast Europe, reads Austrian daily Der Standard, reported by Deutsche Welle.
European Commission senior official told Der Standard that Varhelyi’s statements have puzzled Brussels.
“We don’t understand what got into him, we have always said and will continue to say: North Macedonia has met all criteria,” says the EC official, adding it is unclear why there are even speculations on the decoupling of both countries, when the Council is the body that makes the decision and there are no ambitions for this to happen there.
“On the contrary, countries like Denmark, Netherlands but also Germany will never approve the start of negotiations only for Albania. We are not preparing any decoupling and there is no need for a new Commission report,” says the EC official.
The Vienna-based paper says Varhelyi’s behavior towards North Macedonia is seen from the viewpoint of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s support for the Macedonian national-conservative opposition.
“As enlargement commissioner he cannot allow himself to be guided by personal affinities,” says the EU official.
According to the paper, diplomats say Varhelyi has not managed to support the social-democratic authorities in Skopje in overcoming the Bulgaria veto, and has even been understanding for the nationalistic position of the Bulgarian government.
The Council will again discuss the Western Balkans on Monday, with North Macedonia also on the agenda.
“Austria wants to help Skopje but if there is again no consent for the start of the negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, then the situation will become increasingly untenable, and this has been going on for years. The fact that Skopje cannot still start the accession negotiations is especially sending a counter-productive signal on the Balkans. Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev is seen as a person of clear conscience, leading a model multiethnic government. The image is disastrous: the best student is treated the worst and most unfair,” the EU official told Der Standard.
