On 17-18 October 2019, the European Council failed to reach a consensus to open accession negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia, as recommended by the European Commission, the German Bundestag and the majority of EU member states. The veto of France, Denmark and the Netherlands “sabotaged” the required consensus of 28 members. This was a visibly wrong decision, in contrast with the achievements of both coun-tries, their vision and expectations for Europe, and European identity and values of the West-ern Balkans. Such a decision renders the European integration of Albania and the region more difficult. If the European Council remains reluctant to open negotiations because of President Macron’s veto, it will affect the European future of the Western Balkans as well as Europe’s future, nourish the existing negative stereotypes in the region, give the EU attitude towards some countries of the region a religious connotation, increase the gap between NATO and EU integration and pave the way for the domination of non-Western civilizations in the region.
