- European Union separates Albania, North Macedonia’s EU accession paths
This decision was adopted by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU (Coreper) on September 25.
Thus, Albania can start formal accession talks on October 15.
At the same time, the European integration of North Macedonia remains blocked due to the refusal of the Macedonian authorities to fulfill the French-brokered deal with Bulgaria, approved by the European Council. A key point of the agreements reached two years ago is Skopje’s commitment to include the Bulgarian minority in the Constitution.
Bulgaria has been vetoing North Macedonia’s European integration since 2020 due to historical and cultural disputes, including language and national identity issues. In 2022, a compromise (“French accord”) was reached, according to which Sofia would remove the veto on the European integration of the neighboring country, while Skopje would recognize the Bulgarians as a nation-building people and adopt appropriate constitutional amendments.
This year’s return to power in North Macedonia of the conservative VMPO-DPMNE put the process of implementing the “French accord” to a halt. As a result, the blocking of the country’s European integration has resumed.
The Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, emphasized: “I am sorry that we are being blocked by the dispute with Bulgaria”, but, according to the government head, the country should continue implementing reforms “with hope for the European future”.
- Hungary fails to mediate in negotiations between North Macedonia, Bulgaria
Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary, the country that currently holds the rotating EU presidency, considers the EU decision to separate the European integration processes of North Macedonia and Albania, and not open negotiations with North Macedonia, to be a “historic mistake” that will affect the stability of the Western Balkans. until Skopje fulfills the preconditions put forward by Sofia and approved by the EU.
During a visit to North Macedonia, Orbán expressed his readiness to help resolve the dispute with Bulgaria and expressed willingness to act as a mediator to this end.
However, Bulgarian high-ranking officials rejected the offer.
“European agreements with the Republic of North Macedonia are clear. Bulgaria does not need mediators in this process,” said the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Ivan Kondov, commenting to journalists on the proposal of the Hungarian Prime Minister.
During a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Bulgaria’s top diplomat assured his Hungarian counterpart that mediation is not necessary to convince North Macedonia to fulfill the criteria for launching accession talks.
- Local elections in Podgorica see no undisputed winner
In the snap elections in Podgorica, no political force gained the required number of mandates to form a single-force government.
According to tentative reports, seven political blocs have tackled the electoral barrier.
The former ruling force (now opposition) Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) received the most votes, sealing almost 30% of public support, which would give it 19 seats in the Podgorica Assembly.
The coalition focused on the incumbent Prime Minister, Milojko Spajc, consisting of the Europe Now Movement (PES) and the Democrats, won almost 22% and will get 14 mandates.
The coalition “For the future of Podgorica”, close to Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandic and MP Milan Kneževic and consisting of political forces of the former “Democratic Front”, received a little more than 20% of the votes (13 mandates).
The coalition of President Jakov Milatovic entitled “For a better Podgorica”, consisting of the Movement for Podgorica and the URA Civic Movement, came in fourth with 11%, which will secure six mandates in the local Assembly.
“European Union” won more than 5% (3 mandates), and Pokret Preokret (Reverse Movement) – over 3% (2 mandates).
The European Progress Party, which was founded by former members of the DPS, won 3.08% (2 seats).
There are a total of 59 seats in the Podgorica Regional Assembly.
Both the political forces that rule the country at the national level and the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists will be able to form the required majority. The political situation at the national level will depend on the outcome of coalition negotiations in Podgorica. If the DPS returns to power in Montenegro’s main city, this will indicate a high likelihood of snap parliamentary elections.
- Azerbaijan, Serbia sign deal on additional gas supply
During the visit of Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov to Belgrade, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and the Serbian state-owned Srbijagas signed an agreement on additional daily gas supplies of 1 million cubic meters from November 1, 2024 to April 1, 2025.
Serbia’s Energy Minister Dubravka Jedovic Handanovic said the deal “secures for Serbia additional gas supply throughout the coming winter.”
Azerbaijani gas deliveries to Serbia began in February 2024. In November 2023, SOCAR and Srbijagas sealed a deal that laid down the annual supply of up to 400 mcm of Azerbaijani gas in 2024-2026.
Serbia’s annual domestic gas needs stand at approximately 2.5 billion cubic meters, almost all of which is imported. Currently, the main supplier is Russia’s Gazprom. Observers see the Serbian-Azerbaijani gas agreements as Belgrade’s attempt to diversify energy imports and reduce gas dependence on Russia.
- NATO deploying additional forces for exercises in Kosovo, North Macedonia
Around 200 troops from the newly created Allied Reaction Force (ARF) will be deployed to the Western Balkans from September 30 to October 16 for training to ensure their readiness and support for NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR).
A 50-strong military contingent of the Operational Liaison and Reconnaissance Team (OLRT) with the ARF will be based in Kosovo, and a forward command post with about 150 staff will be set up in North Macedonia. Deployed units will run training operations to maintain a high level of readiness and test their skills and procedures for the rapid deployment of larger forces. Part of the ARF Headquarters will be temporarily integrated into the command and control structures of the KFOR mission with the task of defining the needs for logistical, infrastructural, and operational support of KFOR in the event of a significant increase in NATO presence in Kosovo.
The ARF is a strategic, multi-pronged, high-readiness force that provides NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) with immediate crisis response capabilities. This is the first deployment of an ARF unit since the unit was formed in July 2024.
Earlier, on September 18, scheduled operational-level exercise involving other KFOR troops started in Kosovo. The purpose of the drill is to test the existing procedures for the rapid deployment of additional troops and their integration with the KFOR mission, the NATO mission in Kosovo noted.
Three hundred British servicemen from the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, which is part of the Strategic Reserve Force (SRF) in Kosovo, were temporarily deployed to Kosovo for training.
The drill will go on through late October.
The deployment of NATO’s Joint Response Force (ARF), together with the ongoing deployment of the Strategic Reserve Force (SRF) to Kosovo, announced earlier this month, sends a renewed and clear message of NATO’s firm resolve and commitment to peace and stability in the region, NATO said in a statement.
