(ANSA-AP) - BRUSSELS, 18 OCT - European Union leaders have
broken off talks without agreement on whether to launch
membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia,
despite warnings that turning them away would tarnish the EU's
reputation and risks inflaming the volatile Balkans region.
The two countries were expecting to receive a green light to
begin negotiations on joining Europe's rich club, a process
which could take several years. The European Commission, which
supervises entry talks, insists that both have met all the
criteria. The leaders had promised a decision on their futures
by the end of October but their talks broke up early Friday.
French President Emmanuel Macron is refusing to allow any new
countries into the 28-nation bloc until its enlargement
procedures have been improved, while the Netherlands opposes
Albania's candidacy and disputes the commission's assessment.
(ANSA-AP).
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