Outgoing European Council President Donald Tusk devoted his time on 16 September to make a final push in support of the EU accession aspirations of both Albania and North Macedonia, both of which remain extremely worried that an EU decision due in October might not yield the hoped-for green light to launch formal accession talks.

The leaderships in both countries are concerned that the incoming team of Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen may shift priorities away from early enlarg...