European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi confirmed to N1 that the European Commission (EC) annual report on candidates countries would be published in autumn instead in June as usual.

He said the report would be published later in the year to enable the EC to have better insight into the progress in reforms in the Western Balkans countries “which slowed down due to need to answer the COVID-19 crisis.”

Varhelyi said the report should be presented in early September when, he added, the EC should also publish the investment plan for the region, but “that will depend on the EU budget in the next several years.”

I confirmed today that negotiating frameworks for #Albania #NorthMacedonia will come in June, while annual reports are due in the autumn so further reforms can be delivered & predictability is better in view of #COVID19. Important enlargement momentum continues. @EP_ForeignAff

— Oliver Varhelyi (@OliverVarhelyi) May 19, 2020

Speaking to the European Parliament Foreign Policy Committee (AFET) the Commissioner added that the negotiating framework for Albania and North Macedonia would be presented in June.

“I want to continue the job and use the swing and consensus on the enlargement,” Varhelyi said.