LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), September 4 (SeeNews) – The price for stagnation and postponing further the decision on the opening of EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia is a risk, the secretary general of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, has said.
The European Union will always be an unfinished business without the Western Balkans, Bregu said during a panel discussion in the framework of Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia on Tuesday.
The non-opening would breed instability, migration, unconstructive influence of other geopolitical actors, Bregu noted.
“One third of the region’s population has left in the last 5 years. And these are the real problems of the region,” Bregu noted, adding that the EU should recognise this ringing bell as an opportunity.
In June, the Council of the European Union said it will discuss the issue of opening accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia no later than October in light of the limited time available and the importance of the matter.
North Macedonia is a EU candidate country since 2005 and Albania since 2014.