site.btaFM Zaharieva: Decision for Macedonia and Albania Is Major Step to Their European Future

Luxembourg, June 27 (BTA correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - For the first time since 2015, the EU Council made a decision on enlargement, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva told a news conference after long talks followed by a decision of the General Affairs Council to support the start of accession talks with Macedonia and Albania next year on certain conditions.

"I am not going to hide that it was not easy. We made a decision that is extremely positive for the entire Europe - not just for the Western Balkans and its citizens. This decision will strengthen confidence in the EU. Also, we showed that we deliver on our promises to the people in this region and the talk about the European perspective of the Western Balkans is more than declarations," said the top Bulgarian diplomat.

She also said that "this is only the beginning, the process has only started and a lot of work remains to be done".

The European Council decision gives a clear timeframe to the two countries, said Zaharieva.

Taking a reporter's questions, she said that there had been bigger hopes but the General Affairs Council's decisions are "better than nothing". "I personally would have been happier to see a braver decision but the one we had last night was very tough to make, and is a huge step towards the European future of the two countries."

Zaharieva said that normally it takes six-seven months from the decision to open accession talks, for the talks to actually start.

The EU leaders are expected to endorse the decision as they meet later this week.