EU to let Albania, North Macedonia begin membership talks

European affairs ministers agreed Tuesday to allow Albania and North Macedonia to begin European Union membership talks, paving the way for the bloc's leaders to sign off on the move that could end years of setbacks and disappointment for the two Balkan nations.

Croatia's European Affairs minister Andreja Metelko Zgombic described the decision as "good news, historic news" and said EU leaders were likely to rubber stamp it on Thursday.

No date was announced for the start of the membership negotiations, which can take several years.

North Macedonia, previously known as Macedonia, has been a candidate for EU membership since 2005, but a long-running dispute with Greece over the country's name stood in the way of accession negotiations.

The two neighbors struck a deal for Macedonia to rename itself North Macedonia in exchange for Greece dropping its objections to the country joining the EU.

North Macedonia's caretaker prime minister, Oliver Spasovski, described the news as 'beautiful'.

Albania's prime minister Edi Rama also expressed delight at the development.