Albania complains its EU accession bid is being held hostage

Albania's prime minister has complained about the delay in the launch of his country's membership negotiations with the European Union

TIRANA, Albania -- Albania's prime minister complained Tuesday about the delay in the launch of European Union membership negotiations with his country, saying Bulgaria’s veto was holding the process hostage.

Edi Rama spoke at a news conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is on a regional tour ahead of an EU-Western Balkans summit on Oct. 6.

Rama called Albania’s situation “absurd," noting that Bulgaria is blocking the start of talks with North Macedonia and as a result is also holding up Albania.

The western Balkan countries — Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia — are at different stages on the EU membership path. Recent factors that delayed their progress include the bloc’s stalled interest in enlargement and years of diplomatic turmoil over Brexit.