Council of the European Union has sent a working letter on May 5 to the delegations of EU countries before this Monday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers.

In the paragraph on Albania and North Macedonia, the Council has requested that for these two countries to start membership negotiations with the EU as soon as possible.

According to the EU Council, the momentum of reforms in these two countries must be maintained and European integration must move forward.

"For Albania and North Macedonia, the EU accession process itself has provided the strongest impetus for reforms and, as such, more democracy, stability and prosperity for the respective populations. It is now essential that accession negotiations begin as soon as possible and move forward, along with maintaining the momentum of reforms in both countries'', states the paragraph 21.2.

In addition, the EU Council notes that there is a sense of deep disappointment in the enlargement process in the Western Balkans region. According to it, one of the factors is the lack of decisions for Albania and North Macedonia.

“Today, we must acknowledge that despite its unwavering commitment to EU integration and unprecedented levels of EU financial and economic support, including dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic - people in the region are experiencing a sense of deep frustration in the enlargement process.

The main factors are: lack of decisions, steps for Albania and North Macedonia after the opening of the March 2020 Council decision on accession negotiations; the slow pace of progress on the EU path in Serbia-Montenegro, the implementation of key priorities for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Kosovo Stabilization and Association Agreement, and the uncertainty surrounding the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. A perception of the delayed delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to the EU has further fueled a confession of disappointment", it is said in the paragraph 4.