A new EU expansion plan could lead to membership for Albania and North Macedonia. But first it must get approved by a skeptical France.
The Elysée's initial response was broadly upbeat. In a statement, Macron's office hailed the proposal as a"significant change and a positive signal." But the statement also left open the possibility that Paris could demand a higher price before it is ready to put Tirana and Skopje on the path to membership.
The reference to a rethink of the functioning of the EU recalled previous French demands for the bloc to reform its institutions and make decision-making more efficient before it contemplates taking in new members. It left diplomats in Brussels wondering whether Paris now wants such an overhaul before signing off on even the start of enlargement talks. Major reforms of the EU are expected to take years to agree and implement.
"On the reform of the EU, it is a necessity. It will be progressive and is an indispensable pre-condition for accession, but not to the opening of accession negotiations,” the official told POLITICO.
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