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A Macedonian flag floats a day before the referendum on the change of name of the country that would allow it to join NATO and the European Union in Skopje, Macedonia, on September 29, 2018. REUTERS / Marko Djurica

Albania and North Macedonia will have to wait before they can knock on Europe's door. At issue: the reluctance of France, Denmark and the Netherlands to give their green light immediately. The beginning of accession negotiations has been postponed indefinitely, much to the chagrin of most European leaders.

With our special correspondent in Brussels, Anastasia Becchio

In front of the press, in the wake of heated night-time discussions about the opportunity to open accession negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia , the President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, did not hide his bitterness.

He denounced a " major historical mistake " as did the Council President Donald Tusk at his side. Meeting at the summit in Brussels, the leaders of the European Union could not agree on the issue of enlargement to these two countries of the Western Balkans.

" Although some Member States are skeptical, I must point out that there was an overwhelming majority, 24, 25 member countries, determined to continue this process ," said Donald Tusk. But our political structures are complex and sometimes we have to make decisions unanimously. That's the problem .

I would like to send a message to our Macedonian and Albanian friends: do not give up! You did not share and we did not. But I am sure that you will not be disappointed in the European Union.http: //t.co/8G5z2NjHPr pic.twitter.com/xgTjKS0HML

Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) October 18, 2019

On Twitter, the Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn spoke of " extreme disappointment " and considered that the European Union should now clarify its commitment to the integration of the Eastern Balkans.

#EU leaders failed to live up to their #accession negotiations with #NorthMacedonia and #Albania at #EUCO. This is a matter of extreme disappointment. #EU #MS now need to clarify how serious their commitment is to #WesternBalkans' #EU integration. 1/4

Johannes Hahn (@JHahnEU) October 18, 2019

Tartine and butter

At no time did the two European leaders Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk mention those who resist, the Netherlands, Denmark but especially France, the only country to be opposed to the opening of negotiations for the only Macedonia of the North. Two stories above, Emmanuel Macron was giving a press conference. " I assume to wear a voice that is not in the majority, " said the French president.

" It does not work well at 27, how it is explained that it works better at 28.29, 30 or 32 ," he continued. We are too slow to reform ourselves before expanding. The same people who tell us the hand on the heart that we need to expand tell us that they want a budget of 1%. When the bread is bigger and you put less butter, you have to spread the butter and you end up not seeing it any more . "

Italian Council President Giuseppe Conte has announced that he will propose to restart discussions on the subject as early as next month. The goal is to move forward on this issue before the Western Balkans summit in May.

► See also: Spotlight: a first step towards the accession of Macedonia and Albania to the EU