
Progressive governments in Albania and FYR Macedonia made it possible for the two countries to achieve a 2019 start date for EU accession negotiations.
The path to EU membership for both countries is high on the agenda at the pre-summit meeting of Party of European Socialists prime ministers today, attended by FYR Macedonia prime minister Zoran Zaev as well as Alexis Tsipras of Greece.
It follows the agreement by EU ministers earlier this week that negotiations should begin next year.