BELGRADE – Eighty five Western Balkan CSOs and several individuals have signed a petition to European Council President Donald Tusk, initiated by the European Movement in Serbia and urging him not to postpone opening of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia in June.
According to Danas, the document warns that a further delay would negatively impact the support for EU and its credibility in the entire region.
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“Civil society organisations from the Western Balkans express hope and expectations that the European Council will stick to its promise of opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania in June 2019”, the document reads.
It also praises bravery and determination of the North Macedonian and Greek leaders, who have “set up a pattern of how to resolve bilateral disputes in the region”.
The document was signed by 85 CSOs, among which are European Movements in Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia, Centre for Contemporary Poltics – European Western Balkans, Open Society Foundation in both Serbia and Albania, Youth Initiatives for Human Rights from across the region, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy and European Policy Centre.
Several individuals from the region have also signed the petition, including diplomats Ivan Vejvoda and Goran Svilanović, former Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić and RECOM coordinator Nataša Kandić, Danas reports.