Select a language
On the sign "Only for clean countries"
Second customs officer (Bulgaria)"...unless..."
The EU leaders decided on 18 October to postpone the date of opening of accession negotiations for Albania and Northern Macedonia. The Netherlands, Denmark and in particular France have opposed further enlargements of the Union – a decision that must be taken unanimously by the Member States – in the absence of a reform of its functioning.
European leaders have expressed their bitterness, while the rejection is perceived as a severe snub in the countries concerned, especially since it is apparently not the state of their preparation that is being called into question.
Receive the best of European journalism straight to your inbox every Thursday
Was this article useful? If so we are delighted! It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans. Discover our membership offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!
Russia’s attack on Ukraine: Kateryna Mishchenko in conversation with Sergey Lebedev
Two weeks after the launch of Russia’s massive attack on Ukraine, Ukrainian writer Kateryna Mishchenko – who had to flee Kyiv – shared her thoughts with our readers and with Sergey Lebedev, a veteran Putin opponent.
Go to the event >