The European Union has decided to separate the EU accession paths of Albania and North Macedonia, allowing Albania to move forward in its membership negotiations while North Macedonia remains delayed, pending the fulfilment of key obligations.

The decision was made by the EU’s Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) late on September 25, with Albania set to begin formal negotiations on October 15.

Albania's progress signals a departure from the previous strategy of advancing both countries in tandem along the European integration path. While Albania is poised to begin negotiations with the EU on the Basic Values cluster, North Macedonia still needs to meet specific criteria before negotiations can start. These include constitutional amendments to recognise Bulgarians in its constitution, a requirement set by the European Council.

Ana Pisonero, the European Commission’s spokeswoman for enlargement, neighbourhood policy and international partnerships, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to both countries but said that North Macedonia must meet the agreed conditions first.

"The Commission looks forward to starting negotiations with both Albania and North Macedonia as soon as possible, but North Macedonia needs to fulfil the criteria agreed with the Council," Pisonero was cited by 24.mk.

She added that decisions regarding the next steps in the accession process rest with the EU member states, rather than the Commission.

Bulgaria's demands have been a key obstacle in North Macedonia's path to EU accession, with Sofia blocking its progress in 2020 over historical and cultural disputes, including language and identity issues. The blockade was lifted in 2022 after a compromise brokered by the EU, which required North Macedonia to amend its constitution to include Bulgarians as a recognised minority.

Despite the unblocking, relations between the two countries remain tense, with North Macedonia struggling to implement the constitutional changes due to opposition from the right-wing VMRO-DPMNE party, which views them as a concession to Bulgaria. After VMRO-DPMNE's general election victory earlier this year, the impasse continues to hinder North Macedonia’s EU aspirations, delaying further membership negotiations.

North Macedonia’s PM Hristijan Mickoski commented on September 26 that the EU decision sends a negative message to Macedonian citizens, as the country has been on the EU integration path for over two decades and has made more efforts towards membership than any other candidate or current member, often beyond the Copenhagen criteria.

Mickoski wished Albania success in swiftly completing its negotiation process, expressing hope that "our paths may cross again on the trajectory towards full EU membership".

“We are the only case where bilateral agreements are a condition within the negotiating framework. Regrettably, the previous government accepted everything so eagerly," he said.

He further added that many Macedonian citizens feel the same, noting that North Macedonia should not accept conditions at the expense of its national and identity.

"For me, this is a dictate. If this is the condition for [North] Macedonia to continue its negotiations, then, as I said in Brussels – no, thank you. These are not the European values my generation fell in love with ... That’s why I emphasised the importance of dialogue – let’s talk, don’t dictate or impose conditions on us," stressed Mickoski.

The separation of the two countries’ accession paths has ignited concerns within North Macedonia, particularly among opposition parties. Venko Filipce, leader of the opposition Social Democrats, SDSM, sharply criticised the government’s approach to EU integration, describing the separation as a "serious defeat" for North Macedonia’s aspirations.

"The separation of Albania and North Macedonia is a major defeat for the government's policies regarding the country's European integration. But above all, this is a huge disaster for the future of the citizens. Unfortunately, this missed opportunity will affect many families and an entire new generation. It destroys the hope that our country can progress and develop," Filipce stated in a news conference.

As Albania prepares to begin its EU membership talks, North Macedonia’s path to accession remains uncertain, with political and procedural challenges still ahead.