Luxembourg: EU ministers fail to agree on Albania and North Macedonia accession

W/S Press conference starting, Luxembourg *NO SOUND AT SOURCE*
SOT, Tytti Tuppurainen, Finnish Europe Minister: "Our presidency has worked very hard to reach a positive decision on both North Macedonia and Albania. We shared the commitment to the EU prospective of the Western Balkans. Like some of my colleagues said , it's not our backyard, it is our neighbourhood and we have commitments. But unfortunately, today the Council was not able to reach a unanimous decision, I regret that."
M/S Journalists
M/S Tuppurainen and Hahn at press conference
SOT, Tytti Tuppurainen, Finnish Europe Minister: "Yes, I would like to remind you that the initial proposal by the presidency was to say a clear yes to both north Macedonia and Albania. That has been our firm position for a long time being, and we did our very best to facilitate the discussion today to a successful end. But unfortunately, there were a few member states hesitant and one member state particularly against, so we were not able to reach the required unanimousity in order to make the decision."
*MULTIPLE SHOTS AT SOURCE*
M/S Journalist
W/S End of press conference
SCRIPT
The European Council of Ministers failed to reach an agreement on opening membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, Finnish Europe Minister Tytti Tuppurainen reported at a press conference in Luxembourg on Tuesday.
Tuppurainen confirmed that a majority of member states supported the prospect of accession talks, but failed to take a final decision. "Unfortunately, there were a few member states hesitant and one member state particularly against, so we were not able to reach the required unanimousity in order to make a decision," she added.
France, the Netherlands and Denmark reportedly blocked the decision, expressing concerns about reform in the Balkan countries.
However, Tuppurainen stressed the importance of the partnership between the EU28 and their Western Balkan partners, expressing hope for the positive resolution. "It's not our backyard, it's our neighbourhood and we have commitments".