North Macedonia will receive one of the most critical assessments in this year's EU enlargement report, which will be presented by EU Commissioner Marta Koss.
According to the document cited by "Politico", Brussels is increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of progress in the country's candidacy, along with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The words will be especially harsh for Belgrade, but Skopje will not escape criticism either - a sign that the wave of Euro-optimism that swept the region after Russia's aggression in Ukraine is starting to clash with political realities and hesitant reforms on the ground.
""We can no longer afford for candidates to hide behind ambiguous positions," Koss told French MPs.
Despite the stated enthusiasm of the European Commission, the feeling in the Council of the EU is different, according to "Politico". They prefer a slow and cautious approach, emphasizing the need for candidate countries to be "truly ready" before being accepted. Against this background, the feeling is growing that North Macedonia may remain on the periphery of the enlargement process for a long time to come.
The picture is completely different for Albania and Montenegro, which are among the most praised countries in the report. Montenegro is even considered a potential new member as early as 2027.
The Commission will use the document to emphasize enlargement as a key geopolitical tool. Therefore, it will also have a special emphasis on Ukraine and Moldova. For now, however, both countries are blocked by Hungary's veto.