EU ministers of European affairs, who make up the General Affairs Council, on Tuesday reached an agreement on opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, and the formal decision is to be made in writing.

The European Council is expected to support the conclusions made at an informal video-conference of European affairs ministers on Tuesday.

Last week, an agreement was reached on draft conclusions of the Coreper (Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European Union), which is made up of the heads of EU member states’ missions in Brussels.

Concerning North Macedonia, the first inter-governmental conference is to be held after the Council agrees on the wording of the negotiating framework.

Albania is supposed to meet some additional criteria, including progress in the fight against corruption and organised crime and the overhaul of the election legislation, before the first inter-governmental conference can be convened.

The Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union proposes that the European Commission should without delay prepare the negotiating frameworks for the two aspirants.

Both countries will hold accession negotiations in line with the new methodology.