European Parliament considers the failure to open accession negiotiations with Albania and North Macedonia as a mistake

On Thursday, October 24th, 2019, the European Parliament expressed in its resolution »big dissapointment« over the fact, that the European Presidents and Prime Ministers in the course of the EU-Summit, which was held on October 17th and 18th, 2019, could not agree on the opening of the EU accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia. In the resolution, which was adopted by 412 votes in favour, 136 against votes and 30 abstentions, the members of the  European Parliament mentioned the efforts and significant endeavours, which these two countries put to fulfill the conditions for the beginning of the access talks and stressed that all elements for the start of the negotiations should be reached. The decision, which is the result of the blockade by France, Denmark and the Netherlands, was evaluated as a »strategical mistake« and damages the EU‘s  credibility. The members of the European Parliament therefore asked the member countries to take an unanimous position decison for the start of the negotiations in the frame of the next meeting.