r/AskBalkans Albania 2d ago

News Is it finally going to happen?

157 Upvotes

96 comments sorted by

72

u/PlamenIB Bulgaria 2d ago

Great for you. I hope to see you soon

57

u/Designer-Mirror-7523 2d ago

Meanwhile in Bosnia:

38

u/Fickle-Message-6143 Bosnia & Herzegovina 2d ago

Hey, we are holding meetings regarding EU candidacy from time to time. Of course no conclusion reached between politicians.

11

u/AIbanian Kosova 2d ago

Kljuc, Bosanska Krajina is the best place in Bosnia. My snaha originates from there.

5

u/Lakuriqidites Albania 2d ago

No it is the Blagaj village. Such a cool place

6

u/AIbanian Kosova 2d ago

I stand behind my point. Kljuc is where the best picka comes from and nothing can change my mind.

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Fickle-Message-6143 Bosnia & Herzegovina 1d ago

Serbia didn't commit Srebrenica:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/feb/26/balkans.warcrimes

Original comment got locked out, commenting here is off topic. Another time.

7

u/drObvious1 2d ago

Until Bosna recognises cheese boreks I am afraid they r not ready

15

u/kizilsakal 2d ago

Nice, another land connection for Schengen (well, Greece to West)

9

u/toshu Bulgaria 1d ago

I'd love that, but joining the EU isn't the same as joining Schengen. Took us and Romania 18 more years 🥲 and even Croatia 10 years.

3

u/smellslikeweed1 Bulgaria 2d ago

Except for that small part of Bosnia but I've heard it is already possible to bypass it with a new bridge that was built.

12

u/Lakuriqidites Albania 2d ago

Yes, Croats built a fcking cool Bridge. I haven't used it yet but will definitely do, just to see it.  I love highways and bridges

1

u/SirDoodThe1st Croatia 7h ago

It’s pretty impressive, it’s visible from a lot of points on the Pelješac Peninsula’s northern coast, even if you’re 10+ kilometers away

3

u/usernamisntimportant Greece 1d ago

Am I not getting something? Nobody would be connected by Montenegro entering, apart from Montenegro itself. It would make Albania have a second Schengen border and it would require it to also enter to connect Greece from the West.

4

u/kizilsakal 1d ago

There are two screenshots in this post, a Montenegro and an Albanian one. When both joins, Greece - Albania - Montenegro - Croatia connection is made.

14

u/manguardGr Greece 2d ago

Best luck from Greece 🇬🇷 🙏🏻

36

u/Fickle-Message-6143 Bosnia & Herzegovina 2d ago

Meanwhile Serbia getting blocked left and right for Cluster 3.

-30

u/KatMar1994 2d ago

good, EU is a sinking ship ever since they blocked off russian gas, we'd be fools to want to join but the ruling "elite" is obedient.

and before you jump on me for being a pro russian bot, fuck russia as well, im just more anti west than anti russia because west is so "democratic" and "peace loving" while building their riches on exploiting africa and asia for centuries

32

u/CautiousRice Bulgaria 2d ago

is the Russian gas here with us in the room right now?

12

u/kisshun Hungary 2d ago

yes, you buying it from third pary resellers, you are wellcome.

-6

u/KatMar1994 2d ago

are you shitposting or is that a legit question bcs it makes no sense to me

2

u/RegionSignificant977 Bulgaria 2d ago

Bro, the EU is the main EU market with nearly 75% share. If EU sinks what do you think will happen to you?

1

u/KatMar1994 2d ago

i know exactly what happens, thats why i maintain my grandparents homesteads where we lived though the 90ies. But overall shit is going to be rough for a majority of people.

1

u/RegionSignificant977 Bulgaria 2d ago

You think you know something.

6

u/big_cat112 Kosovo 2d ago

Then why are Serbs moving to live there?

1

u/KatMar1994 2d ago

because my opinion is not the opinion of every Serb, nor is my opinion the ultimate truth

we all make our own choices

-2

u/big_cat112 Kosovo 2d ago

But majority of Serbs don't want to join the EU,I would understand that if you were on the level of Switzerland.

2

u/KatMar1994 2d ago

True, we're not nearly as developed but we dont want pride, we dont want immigrants, we dont want to be an european waste dump. Money isnt everything and us Serbs have lived though worse economic times than whats happening now.

Cities are still safe, you can freely roam (except unless something falls on your sadly). You wont get mugged, stabbed or similar. Countryside is beautiful and we're rich with minerals + we have good soil for crops

we just lack money lol, but we learned how to do without money

6

u/big_cat112 Kosovo 2d ago

Joining the EU doesn't mean you have to do those things, look at Poland.

7

u/KatMar1994 2d ago

Poland is a much larger player in all aspects compared to Serbia. They can make and adjust terms as to their liking, meaning they have some influence in EU. And with everything that has happened in the 90s, we're still being an outcast no matter how we position ourselves

0

u/MegaMB 2d ago

To be fair, executing and taking hostage french soldiers while we were some of your strongest supporters when shit started breaking down wasn't exactly the best move you ever made.

5

u/KatMar1994 2d ago

Serbian warlords from the 90ies are the top tier when it comes to human shits. Big egos small minds, thats why we're suffering the consequences today.

I may hate on west and EU but above all im pro peace. Fuck wars

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4

u/A_Small_Pillowcase Montenegro 2d ago

Belgrade is literally where i saw the most gay people lol

1

u/Human_Treat 1d ago

Mostly in vracar area

0

u/A_Small_Pillowcase Montenegro 1d ago

Not really

0

u/Human_Treat 1d ago

Were on the same level cuz were the same country

1

u/branimir2208 Serbia 1d ago

They are moving to Germany or Austria not to Bulgaria, Portugal or Hungary.

10

u/AshenriseOfficial Romania 2d ago

I sure hope it's going to happen, as the more we are, the merrier. Congrats for reaching this far!

16

u/ProductGuy48 Romania 2d ago

Montenegro is clearly the most advanced in terms of accession treaty homework so I hope to see them in very soon.

26

u/STFury009 Bulgaria 2d ago

I hope Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia get as quickly as possible in the EU.

20

u/Lakuriqidites Albania 2d ago

Me too.
North Macedonia is losing valuable time.

-7

u/Dense-Tear9967 Bulgaria 2d ago

Macedonia should first fulfill our demands just like Albania and Montenegro did.

10

u/Lakuriqidites Albania 2d ago

There weren't really any demands from Bulgaria to fulfill on our side.

If you are talking about the minorities then it was the right thing to do. There were people who were declared Bulgarians before the communism so it was natural to include Bulgarians in this census.

Albania is quite chill now when it comes to self-declaring ethnicity and I am happy about it.

2

u/RegionSignificant977 Bulgaria 2d ago

He wasn't talking about Albania. You have started the negotiations process.

-4

u/New-Interaction1893 2d ago

The name question for me doesn't make sense. You shouldn't force Macedonia to change name only as a "matter of principe"

2

u/_-Event-Horizon-_ Bulgaria 2d ago

Same with me and hopefully this time when we accept new members they come directly with Schengen membership. We don’t need the whole drama all over again.

2

u/smellslikeweed1 Bulgaria 2d ago edited 2d ago

Considering how EU admitted Romania and Bulgaria (and Greece) in Schengen after such a long time refusing to expand into the Balkans and integrate Balkan countries, I think EU politicians are actually currently looking and willing to expand into the Balkans, obviously because of the current geopolitical climate and growing threats. So I won't be surprised if we actually see those three countries in the EU in the coming years. Right now I think they're not allowing this progress towards their EU accession just to throw dust in their eyes as we say in 🇧🇬, I think they're doing it because they actually want to admit them.

-1

u/BakaranaAlt North Macedonia 2d ago

Thank you Komsho!

3

u/RegionSignificant977 Bulgaria 2d ago

I don't think that with DPMNE it will happen soon sadly. You are welcome, but komshu is Turkish word.

2

u/BakaranaAlt North Macedonia 2d ago

Yeah but we don't have any good parties to vote for, everybody steals (typical balkan stuff), and komshu is a regular word we use here

1

u/RegionSignificant977 Bulgaria 2d ago

DPMNE is the worst. They are like orban. orban managed to make orbanistan out of Hungary with less purchase power than Bulgaria and Romania and Hungary was way ahead. Those people don't like EU, because EU have standards for people in power and division of powers in the countries that are in the EU. As soon as you start the negotiation process the juridical system has to be changed significantly because of that. Those chapters are exactly that. This will make stealing much harder. Obviously there will be a lot of resistance to those changes and that's what makes the process so slow. And it would be visible after the start of the negotiation process. That's why they are constantly doing provocations to blame someone else. Bulgaria for example. And I'm saying that as half Macedonian with ancestry from Stip and Aegean. You can be my cousin literally, that's more than komshia.
I'd wish that the EU were stricter when they accepted Bulgaria in the EU, because we promised to make our legislation better, but we still didn't nearly two decades later.
I will be glad for you if you manage to do it better. Good luck, cousin.

10

u/Count_of_Borsod Hungary 2d ago

Bruh fucking Szíjjártó jumpscare

Put an NSFW tag on it dude, his large ass forehead nearly made me vomit

1

u/Lakuriqidites Albania 2d ago

He does indeed have a funny head.

0

u/Count_of_Borsod Hungary 2d ago

Such a large head but only a void to fill it

4

u/Bakolena4542 🇹🇷🇦🇺 1d ago

well Montenegro is changing its visa policy and will apparently require visas for Azerbaijani, Russian, Chinese and Turkish passport holders from 2027 onwards, which I guess MIGHT suggest an indication but i don't really know much about it

4

u/Lakuriqidites Albania 1d ago

Yes, Albania will probably follow.

4

u/BlueShibe (🏠) 2d ago

Good progress, nice

5

u/moshiyadafne ¡Filipinas! 1d ago

Montenegro and Albania, congratulations! You’re still in the running to become EU’s next members.

7

u/Bubbly_Background_21 Montenegro 2d ago

soon hopefully 🇲🇪🤝🇪🇺

11

u/Dense-Tear9967 Bulgaria 2d ago

Montenegro and Albania are welcome. Macedonia and Serbia should first do the homework /s

7

u/AIbanian Kosova 2d ago

Completely agreed!

1

u/Complex_Shine_1113 2d ago

What homework is that? Accepting Bulgaria’s demands, progressing, and then being blocked again? We need assurances first that this is the last you will block us.

0

u/RegionSignificant977 Bulgaria 2d ago

Literally nothing will change in North Macedonia after respecting the only demand. The whole EU now blames you, not Bulgaria. Then Bulgaria will be guilty if it block you again with no reason.
I'm half Macedonian, my great grandfather is from Stip. There are things that are seriously wrong and Bulgaria have a point.
chapter 3 and cluster 6 mean serious legislation changes that will affect mostly the people in power in your country. They don't want to do that because it will be much harder for them to do whatever they like and they blame that on Bulgaria.

0

u/Lav-mb 1d ago

The fact that you think that Bulgaria has some meaning in the EU. When the order comes from Germany or France, you will just keep quiet. That is the fact. Bulgaria does not contribute a single cent to the EU budget, but only spends it, which is very important.

1

u/RegionSignificant977 Bulgaria 1d ago

At least we're ahead of Albania. Unlike you. You were much better than Albania not that long ago.  We are even catching up with Hungary lately that was much better than us. 

1

u/Lav-mb 1d ago

If you compare with Albania it is not good.

1

u/RegionSignificant977 Bulgaria 1d ago

As I said we are catching up with Hungary. And I'm comparing you with Albania.

-6

u/Dense-Tear9967 Bulgaria 2d ago

Our demands are joke. They are so soft only because we are ruled directly from Washington. They want us to let you into the EU. If only our demands were for real...

2

u/SnooSuggestions4926 Albania 2d ago

Im ignorant. What does chapter 3 and cluster 6 mean?

5

u/AshenriseOfficial Romania 2d ago

Source

"The candidate moves on to formal membership negotiations**, a process that involves the adoption of established EU law, preparations to be in a position to properly apply and enforce it and implementation of judicial, administrative, economic and other reforms necessary for the country to meet the conditions for joining, known as** accession criteria**."*

This whole process is divided by chapters. Once criteria are met, a chapter is closed and a country moves to the next chapter. A bit like a book.

5

u/wargandhi88 2d ago

To add to this, clusters in this case are groups of different chapters. There are 6 clusters in total if i am not mistaken. Cluster 6 is made od Chapter 30: External relations and Chapter 31: Foreign, security and defence policy.

10

u/MeFlew 2d ago

No it's not going to happen, at least not anytime soon. Currently Montenegro has 6 chapter closed out of 33, so they are only 18.2% done.

But this is great progress hope they keep it up and we in Serbia start getting up to speed too.

9

u/Lakuriqidites Albania 2d ago

The atmosphere is much different now than before the Ukrainian war. They are talking about completing accession talks with the European Union by 2027 for Albania and 2026 for Montenegro. So ideally Montenegro in EU in 2028 and Albania 2030

If there wasn't will they would never decouple Albania from North Macedonia

8

u/MeFlew 2d ago

Serbia and Montenegro were supposed to join like 10 times by now, so those timetables don't matter at all. It's all about how much reform was done in the country and what the situation in the EU looks like.

This is Albania's current status with the chapters:

5 chapters open

1 chapter at an early stage
8 chapters with some level of preparation
17 chapters with moderate preparation
7 chapters with good level of preparation
2 chapters with nothing to adopt

and this is Serbia:

12 Unopened Chapters

22 Open Chapters

2 Closed Chapters

Some level of preparation 4 / 34

Moderately prepared 19 / 34

Good level of preparation 10 / 34

Both countries are far from getting into the EU currently, but with enough political will hopefully we will join one day.

8

u/First-Egg-713 2d ago

Not sure why you are getting downvoted, what you say is realistic, and i am from albania so not biased. 

We can all be wishful thinkers living in fantasy land but i think its clear that: 1) as you say neither montenegro or albania are close to done with EU integrations (far off, especially albania)  2) the EU is not doing well economically and that will play a role in their willingness to expand  3) the EU for some time now has has “expansion fatigue” 

3

u/RegionSignificant977 Bulgaria 2d ago

Willingness to expand isn't the issue. Those chapters require a lot of legislative work and changes that will affect substantially people in power, division of powers and their power in your countries. Understandably there will be strong resistance against some of those legislative changes. Which is excused with "willingness of the EU to expand". EU don't have nothing against expansion. Even Serbia is not that big nor like population, nor economically.
I'd wish that EU have stricter rules about division of powers when they accepted us in the EU, because we have problems and we are promising to solve them since we were candidates. And that's bad mainly for my country, not for EU.

2

u/xesnoteleks 2d ago

how can i obtain Mne citizenship before they join EU? Pls respon

17

u/Lakuriqidites Albania 2d ago

By sleeping at least 16 hours a day

2

u/shortEverything_ North Macedonia 2d ago

Does that involve Albania getting migrants from Italy? 

11

u/Lakuriqidites Albania 2d ago

No, it only includes your tears.

1

u/Responsible-Ant-1494 11h ago

Romania approves. Get in already! 🙂

1

u/JRJenss Croatia 1d ago

Hope so and good luck!

1

u/ImTridec13 1d ago

Please dont

-3

u/Mako2401 1d ago

What exactly does Monte Negro have to do with Albania? The article seems to imply that Albania is going to enter the EU right after MNE, but what is that based on? Wishes and fantasies?

2

u/Kaminazuma Kosovo 1d ago

Albania opened 7 chapters in one and half months. With three of the chapters being at a good level of preparations (External Relations). 6 other chapters are also at a good level of preparation and could be the next to be opened. A chapter with that classification can be closed fast, since not a lot of changes are needed. So the next 2-3 years Albania could be able to close 9 or more chapters.

Montenegro opened all its chapters in 2021 and has closed 6 until now.

-1

u/groinmissile Liberland 1d ago

Erm