PES President Sergei Stanishev said:
“This is a matter of justice and credibility. Albania and North Macedonia have undertaken tough and necessary reforms and have shown us their commitment to the European rules and ideals. The time has come for the EU to meet its own commitments. This is the right thing to do.”
Stanishev underlined the strategic importance of this step for the whole Western Balkans region.
“This decision sends a very positive signal to the Western Balkans: the door of the EU is open to those who want to modernise their countries in line with the principles of democracy and the values of the EU. We know that the EU has the power to produce positive change in its immediate neighbourhood. Let’s use it. I commend Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev on their leadership.”