Despite Skopje finally striking a name deal with Athens and the EU supposedly making a renewed commitment to the Western Balkans, EU governments decided to delay the start of membership talks with Macedonia and Albania until next year, pending more reforms from the two Balkan states, EU Observer reports. During a 10-hour debate over opening accession negotiations, France and the Netherlands, as well as Denmark, opposed launching EU membership talks with Macedonia and Albania.
Meanwhile, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is likely to approve the start of membership talks with Macedonia at its July summit. Albania is already a member of NATO.