March 19 (SeeNews) - European Union member states have reached a consensus to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia, the country's deputy prime minister for European affairs, Bujar Osmani, said on Thursday.
The decision should be confirmed during the day and is set to be formally approved at the General Affairs Council on March 24 and at EU leaders' summit scheduled for March 26, Osmani told in a news conference streamed live on the YouTube channel of the government.
"This is exceptionally good news, not only because a consensus was reached among all 27 member states after all the differences that have existed in the past 15 years, but because it really is a historical moment for the country," Osmani said.
The European Council granted the status of candidate country for EU membership to North Macedonia in 2005.