Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia must step up reforms 

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.

Three reports adopted on Wednesday highlight the urgent need for EU-related reforms, effective use of the Growth Plan and a decisive stance against foreign interference.

Albania

MEPs highlight Albania’s broad political consensus and strong public support for joining the EU, alongside full alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy. While welcoming Albania’s aim to complete accession talks by 2027 and the progress already made, MEPs stress the urgent need to intensify reforms. Key priorities include strengthening judicial independence, combating corruption and organised crime, and protecting fundamental rights. Enhancing media pluralism and transparency remains crucial to build public trust, say MEPs.

The report notes ongoing political polarisation marked by confrontational rhetoric and calls for more constructive and inclusive political dialogue. It also urges authorities to continue their efforts to safeguard judicial independence and increase accountability.

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Rapporteur Andreas Schieder (S&D, AT) said: “In this term’s first report on Albania, we welcome the rapid progress the ‘accession front-runner’ has made over the past years. Albania is a strong and reliable partner in foreign policy, and has taken remarkable steps in all areas such as justice, anti-corruption and environmental protection. To reach its goal of full EU membership by 2030, it is crucial to keep up the good work by broadening the economic model, creating jobs and improving the social welfare model, as well as implementing a comprehensive and inclusive electoral reform. Albania’s future lies within the EU.”

The report was adopted by 502 votes in favour,120against, and 64 abstentions.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Parliament reaffirms its strong support for BiH’s EU accession bid, emphasising a merit-based process aligned with the Copenhagen criteria and grounded in the country’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Welcoming the European Council’s decision to open accession negotiations with BiH amid the changing geopolitical landscape following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, MEPs acknowledge key reforms but express concern over stalled progress and weak implementation. The report calls for implementation of the necessary constitutional and electoral reforms, and for efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law, and to fight corruption and organised crime.

MEPs strongly condemn divisive rhetoric and secessionist policies, particularly those promoted by Milorad Dodik and the Republika Srpska leadership, calling on the EU to take decisive action, including targeted sanctions, to counter destabilising forces threatening the country’s stability and European security. The report also stresses concerns about malign foreign interference and disinformation campaigns by foreign actors, notably Russia and China, that erode public trust in the EU.

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Rapporteur Ondřej Kolář (EPP, CS) said: “The future of the Balkans lies within Europe, not under Russian domination. Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the most difficult situation in Europe after Ukraine, and we must find a way to help it achieve full integration into Western structures. Developments in BiH demonstrate every day that we must strive for peace, stability, and development, because if we let up, we may once again face war and destruction.”

The report was adopted by 459 votes in favour, 130 against, and 63 abstentions.

North Macedonia

The report underlines that enlargement should be a merit-based process based on the Copenhagen Criteria and calls on North Macedonia to enact the necessary reforms

MEPs welcome the new €750 million Reform and Growth Facility, commending North Macedonia’s ambitious agenda. They urge it to adopt a strong focus on reform implementation, particularly in public administration, governance, the rule of law, and anti-corruption policy. Noting worsening trends in high-level corruption and low public trust in the judiciary, they call for stronger judicial independence, more accountability, and adequate resources for oversight bodies.

The Parliament is deeply concerned that North Macedonia and other EU accession countries in the Western Balkans are being particularly hard hit by foreign interference and disinformation campaigns. It is also alarmed by the roles of the Hungarian Government and the Serbian Government in advancing China’s and Russia’s geopolitical objectives, states the resolution.

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The rapporteur Thomas Waitz (The Greens, AT) said: „Today we adopted the first North Macedonia country report since 2022. As rapporteur, I worked tirelessly for a well-balanced and impartial report on the democratic progress of this country. North Macedonia has been a frontrunner in the region, showing real commitment to EU values, including a historic name change and bold reforms. But its accession has been unfairly blocked for too long due to bilateral disputes, fuelling public frustration and disillusionment with the EU. I call on all political parties in North Macedonia to engage in constructive dialogue to reach the required consensus, which would strengthen the country’s multi-ethnic character and accelerate EU progress.“

The report was adopted by 461 votes in favour, 121 against, and with 107 abstentions.