European Union member state ambassadors had an informal meeting with Commissioner Johannes Hahn on Wednesday but failed to agree on anything relating to the date to start accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, the Beta news agency was told by unnamed sources.

The sources said that some EU member states initially insisted on starting the talks with both countries at the same time but now want the talks to open only with North Macedonia, saying that the decision on Albania should be postponed for next autumn.  

According to the unnamed sources, the meeting concluded that the European perspective of the entire Western Balkans region should be promoted but made no concrete suggestions including the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

The ambassadors of the 28 EU member states are scheduled to hold a formal meeting on June 12 to adopt conclusions on developments in the Western Balkans and possibly decide to launch negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania.