Latest News from Albania
Brussels disappoints Zaev’s EU aspirations
Despite the support of 25 member-states, the European Council has rejected the launch of accession talks with North Macedonia, essentially leaving its Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in a political lurch, given that he had plugged the contentious Prespes agreement with Greece to his people as the ticket that will open the gates to Europe.
Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha: Brexit Is a Colossal Mistake
"To me, Brexit is a colossal mistake. But this is my opinion, I am not the Prime Minister of Great Britain." This comment was made by former Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, who was awarded the Hunziker Medal at a ceremony in Plovdiv. The prize is from the International Association of Philatelic Experts (AIEP) for a significant contribution to research.
European Council/Iohannis supports opening without delay accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia
President Klaus Iohannis maintained, in Brussels, on the occasion of the meeting of the European Council, the necessity of adopting without delay the decision to open accession negotiations with Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia, mentioning that a positive decision in this sense would have a strategic significance for the region.
The Discussions on the EU Enlargement Will Be Resumed before the EU-Western Balkans Summit
The European Council will resume the discussions on the EU enlargement before the EU-Western Balkans Summit, which will be held in May in Zagreb under the Croatian Presidency, said the government press office.
EU fails to launch membership talks with Balkans hopefuls
European Union leaders failed Friday to agree on launching membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia in an embarrassing climb-down that could risk inflaming the volatile Balkans region.
The two countries had expected to receive a green light to begin negotiations on joining the European club, a process which could take several years.
France Sinks EU Hopes of North Macedonia, Albania
EU leaders meeting in Brussels on Friday failed to persuade France to allow a hoped-for start to accession talks for North Macedonia and Albania - and also failed to agree on a written conclusion, which, in the absence of a date for EU talks, would have sent a positive message to Skopje and Tirana about their further engagement in the process.
Three Countries Blocked Skopje and Tirana from Starting Accession Negotiations with the EU
EU leaders have failed to agree to launch accession talks with northern Macedonia and Albania, NOVA TV reported.
EU leaders to discuss North Macedonia, Albania accession after reaching deadlock
Talks in Brussels continued on Friday on the European Union accession prospects of North Macedonia and Albania after tense talks ended in a deadlock the previous night on objections from France, The Netherlands and Denmark, who strenuously oppos the position of the other 25 member-states to commence negotiations with the two Balkan nations.
President Iohannis says future EU budget should be adequate
AGERPRES special correspondent Florentina Peia reports: President Klaus Iohannis said on Friday that the future multiannual budget of the European Union should be an "adequate one." Asked what the size of the future budget should be, he said replied: "An adequate one".
Talks on the potential EU membership of Albania and North Macedonia disrupted!
The decision was not reached despite all night long dramatic discussion, and despite the warnings that turning Tirana and Skopje away would tarnish the EU's reputation and could risk inflaming the Western Balkans region.
Brussels: EU leaders deadlock over membership talks for North Macedonia and Albania
Diplomatic sources say that EU leaders struggled past midnight in a tense debate to reach common conclusions in a bland statement offering encouragement to the candidate countries, and yet postponing a formal decision for accession talks.
EU Leaders Approve Brexit Deal
EU leaders have failed to agree to launch accession talks with northern Macedonia and Albania. A major opponent of this idea is French President President Emmanuel Macron. He urges the Community to reform its membership rules before the accession of new Member States.
Death Trap: Safety Oversight Failing Albania’s Construction Workers
When the dust had settled, Bardhi managed to climb down to the street. Two co-workers were not so lucky: Ergys Brahimaj, 31, and Orjon Kodra, 36, lost their lives, the latest victims of a perilous construction sector.
Work accidents are among the top five causes of unnatural deaths in Albania.
European Council Fails to Reward North Macedonia, Albania
In a major blow to the hopes of the two Balkan countries, the European Council - preoccupied with Brexit - on Thursday failed to give Albania and North Macedonia a date to start EU membership talks.
In a last-ditch effort to reach an agreement on the matter, amid fading hope, the Council moved the issue of enlargement to Friday's last session of the council.
PM Borissov: It Would Be a Historic Mistake if North Macedonia and Albania Aren't Allowed to Enter EU Accession Negotiations
It is very important for the Balkans, the region and our relations with North Macedonia and Albania that these countries are given EU Membership perspective. It would be a historic mistake if they were not allowed to enter EU accession negotiations today. This was what Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said before the start of today's meeting of the European Council in Brussels.