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Hahn says EU credibility at stake on Albania-Macedonia entry

EU Commissioner called on Member States to recognise progress

02 April, 21:00
(ANSA) - BRUXELLES, APRIL 2 - During a hearing at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn called on EU to "respect our side of the bargain" and open its door to Albania and Macedonia.

Their adhesion is "an issue of credibility", he said.

"I am fully convinced that if a country" aiming to enter the EU "meets all the criteria" for the opening of the negotiations, "it is more than appropriate to recognise the positive developments", EU Commissioner pointed out. Now, EU leaders have to "take the next step" and let Tirana and Skopje getting closer the European integration.

The decision of the European leaders to start the talks with the two candidate countries is expected in June, a year after the positive recommendation issued by the EU Commission. EU leaders are called to agree unanimously but Hahn said this voting system should be changed. "It's possible and useful to have a qualified majority on enlargement", he underlined, explaining that his staff "often spends all its time trying to convince one or two Member States to open the negotiations when all the others have already decided to support it. It's a matter of efficiency".(ANSA).

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