Greece’s position that it will not consent to Albania’s accession process if there is no progress on the matter of the elected mayor of Heimara, Fredi Beleri, has been reiterated by diplomatic sources from Brussels.

The same sources emphasized that Greece’s position is clear and has been declared on the Albanian side. Greece has agreed to send the EU’s letter to Tirana for the first step of opening negotiations, on the condition that by the next stage of the process there must be a clear movement to the direction restoring the political will of the Chimara electorate.

“It is not a matter of judicial independence, but a purely political-administrative decision” the same diplomatic agents notedadding that the Greek side is not asking for a court decision or intervening, but what it is asking is that the elected mayor of Heimaras be given the permission to swear and to be able to exercise his political rights.

It is noted that today the General Affairs Council of the EU, which is preparing the issues of the Summit of December 14 and 15, which includes EU Enlargement, will also discuss the accession path of the Western Balkan countries. The possibility of disconnecting Albania’s accession process from that of North Macedonia still remains open.

According to the draft conclusions of the Summit, the European leaders will reaffirm their full and unquestionable commitment to the prospect of the Western Balkans joining the EU and will call for the acceleration of their accession process. Negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina will begin once the criteria are sufficiently met, according to this plan.