Tsipras: EU Set to Suffer Consequences of Lack of Western Balkan Unity

The European Union is set to suffer the consequences of its lack of unity regarding the Western Balkans, according to Alex Tsipras, former Greek prime minister and leader of leftist party Syriza, in a joint interview with Exit and EURACTIV. Tsipras commented on the repeated failure of the EU to grant Albania and North Macedonia the opening of formal negotiations, as well as the continual no progress in terms of Kosovo's visa liberalisation. "So I think this is another example of the inability of the European Union as a whole to make collective decisions with a strategic focus. And I think the EU has already paid and will pay for that in the future," he said. North Macedonia became an EU candidate 17 years ago and neighbouring Albania eight years ago. While the Commission has been clear that both countries meet accession criteria, they remain in the EU waiting room. This was initially due to a lack of consensus among member states but has now been replaced by a veto from Bulgaria against North Macedonia over cultural and historical issues. Sofia will now lift the veto if certain conditions are met, but Skopje also says its own conditions must be taken into account.

"The decision of the EU summit confirms Europe's unreliability towards those countries that have taken very important steps, and the prospect of a date for accession negotiations is constantly being delayed," Tsipras said, adding that "Europe should better not make promises if it is not able to keep them."

"I wonder what the opinion will be today in Ukraine after it got this fast-track EU candidate status. And what this could mean […] when they see that this regime means nothing. That Ukraine may stay at the candidate status phase for many, many years," he said, echoing the comments of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who said Ukraine should not get its hopes up any time soon.

Regarding the specific plight of North Macedonia, Tsipras said that the Prespa Agreement that saw the country change its name "was not in vain". Skopje has raised concerns that it has already changed its name, and if it yields to Sofia's demands regarding its language and history, it may be forced to make even more concessions in the future.

"It is a deal that put the Western Balkans back on a path of stability and our region in a perspective of peace and cooperation away from the influences of third powers in the region, such as Turkey and Russia, who had great influence in the region,"  Tsipras concluded.