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France and the Netherlands are the most vocal opponents to allow the Western Balkan states to join the EU in the coming years because of the regions history of corruption and organised crime. The Hague and Paris fear that the two states have not done enough to cut corruption ahead of starting the accession process. Officials and diplomats believe that criminals currently operating in Albania and North Macedonia will be attempt to abuse the EU’s single market when access is agreed.

They are concerned that existing issues with rule-breakers Romania and Hungary would likely infect the new members. The EU’s presidents, Jean-Claude Juncker, Donald Tusk and David Sassoli, as well as Ursula von der Leyen, who will take over the European Commission next month, have all said accession talks should start “no later” than this month. In a joint letter, they wrote: “We believe that now is the time to open accession talks with both countries.” They added: “Last June, we agreed to reach a clear and substantive decision on the opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania no later than October 2019.”

Donald Tusk's EU enlargement dreams under threat

France are leading a minority bloc of EU countries hoping to put an end to the talks in the coming weeks. According to European sources, Paris has argued that Brussels should be more focused on reforms amongst existing members before deciding to swell its ranks. Fresh tensions opened between Germany, France and the Netherlands this week when the Bundestag voted to kickstart accession talks. Paris and the Hague will no longer be able to use Berlin for cover as the row threatens to erupt at the European Council summit this month. MUST READ: EU make desperate plea for 'more time' to look at Boris offer

“What we are expecting is to start the difficult and challenging process of accession.” EU countries agreed more than a year ago that negotiations should start, but in June they deferred making a formal decision to October. The move to enlarge the Brussels project could also spread further over Europe after Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic said Serbia should join the bloc. Polish prime minister Andrzej Duda said: "We are obliged to explain other EU member states that the continuation of the enlargement is in the interests of all of us."

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