BRUSSELS, July 19. /TASS/. The European Union has launched membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a news conference in Brussels on Tuesday.
"Today, Albania and North Macedonia open accession negotiations with the EU. This historic moment is your success," she told the two countries premiers.
"You have shown so much enduring commitment to our values, you ve demonstrated resilience, you strengthened the rule of law, you fought against corruption, you have free media, you ve done countless reforms," von der Leyen said. "The people of Albania and North Macedonia deserve it, and we will all stand to gain when one day we welcome Albania and North Macedonia as full-fledged members of the European Union."
Albania has been an EU candidate country since 2014, while North Macedonia was granted the status in 2005.
The talks commenced in Brussels today will be held in dozens of areas, called chapters of the acquis. Both countries will have to bring their laws in line with EU legislation in these areas. The nations will be able to join the EU as soon as this process is over.
However, there are no timeframes for completion. The EU commenced accession negotiations with Turkey back in 2005, and no prospect of completion of the process is yet on the horizon.
