Report: EU To Move Toward Starting Membership Talks With North Macedonia, Albania

A draft decision by the 27 members of the European Union says the bloc should start membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, according to Reuters.

Reuters said on March 23 that it has seen a draft unanimous decision on the move, which is expected to be finalized this week.

Diplomatic sources have been saying that objections by France and the Netherlands to starting talks over democratic reforms and corruption in the two Balkan nations have eased, thus opening the door to starting talks.

EU officials may announce the decision as early as a General Affairs Council scheduled for March 24.

Based on reporting by Reuters