Karoline Edtstadler, Austrian Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution, said Tuesday that North Macedonia and Albania should continue together on their EU accession path, noting that decoupling the two countries might be risky and should be prevented.
“We would like to see Albania and North Macedonia getting a real EU perspective together. We believe it would be risky if we decouple the two countries and this should be prevented. The slogan ‘leaving no one behind’ should be maintained,” said Minister Edtstadler during a joint press conference with Deputy PM for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov.
She expressed hope that the Bulgaria issue would be overcome.
“I also hope that North Macedonia will continue to be constructive and active, working on the problem’s settlement so that we hold intergovernmental conferences with both countries,” added Edtstadler.
Deputy PM Dimitrov said the non-decoupling position is shared by many Union members.
“Besides Austria, we heard German Foreign Minister Haiko Maas say the same yesterday, and the stance was also shared by the Slovak representative in the General Affairs Council a few days ago. I believe that a vast majority of members share the position that both countries meet the criteria and it is high time to have two intergovernmental conferences with North Macedonia and Albania,” said Dimitrov.
