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During her speech to the European Parliament, where the Croatian presidency program was presented, Von Del Leyen stressed that the negotiations should be opened as both Albania and North Macedonia have fulfilled their assigned tasks.
“Croatia knows better than anyone else the power of the European perspective. Croatia knows better than other countries the transformation of the communist system. It is important to maintain our current momentum. Within weeks, the Commission will present a new enlargement methodology so that we can discuss modernization which is very much needed, but most importantly to give our friends in the Western Balkans a European perspective, starting accession talks. They are doing their job, now it's our turn,” said Det Leyen.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, however, did not hide his desire to persuade skeptical countries to start accession talks during Croatia's six-month mandate.
"It is important that we respect the political criteria and look at the individual progress of each candidate country with the aim of EU membership being the ultimate goal of the negotiations," Plenkovic said.
The call by both officials comes a day before Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi's visit to Skopje and Tirana.
Vsrhelyiu has begun talks with France and the Netherlands last week on the new candidate accession methodology.