Ursula von der Leyen to Emmanuel Macron: You opened the doors to Russia in the Balkans

 Macron and Vond der Leyen

 Emmanuel Macron has opened the door to Russia in the Western Balkans. This was stated by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen after the decision to not open negotiations for Albania and North Macedonia.

Ursula von der Leyen urged Union leaders to begin accession talks immediately. She claimed that Russia or China could fill the gap if the EU is not present in the region.

Speaking on the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, von der Leyen said Europe "had demanded much from North Macedonia and Albania, and they have accomplished it all."

"Now we have to be true to our word and start accession talks."

She said EU leaders have been delaying accession for Western Balkan countries since 2003.

She warned if Brussels does not offer a European perspective for the Western Balkan states "others will fill the void - China, Russia, Turkey or Saudi Arabia".