The dispute between Sofia and Skopje must be resolved, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said today after a meeting of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.
There is a strong will and political determination in the Council to give impetus to avoid a possible crisis if no solution is found by the end of the French Presidency (Council of the EU by the end of June). I set a deadline – if it does not happen by the end of the French presidency, I will have to admit that there will be a strong crisis in our relations with the countries of the Western Balkans. That is why we will do everything in our power, we will exert all possible pressure so that the two sides can reach an agreement, Borel added.
The EU wants the Western Balkans to take a more strategic approach to internal issues, reforms and open bilateral issues, he added after a joint lunch of EU and regional foreign ministers today. There is a view that we should start negotiations with Skopje and Tirana immediately, Borel said, adding that he had personally made such a promise.
I hope, even more, more than I even dream, that this will happen during the French Presidency. We all see that procrastination can no longer continue. They do not benefit from this (Skopje and Tirana), neither do we, it costs us too much politically. This is a gift to Russia and an occasion to continue in the same way, Borel added.
He explained that Russian propaganda and misinformation are spreading in the region, BTA reported. Borrell praised the countries of the Western Balkans, which are fully implementing European sanctions, and called on others, such as Serbia, to do the same, because maintaining ties with the Kremlin regime and the EU at the same time is no longer compatible. Neutrality today, in the war in Ukraine, is a misconception, he said. In response to a question, Borel said there was no link between the expected talks with Skopje and Tirana and the issue of Ukraine’s EU bid.
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