A deal on the EU Recovery Fund? North Macedonia and the EU

Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sweden, with the view from Europe:

Is it likely that there will be a deal on the EU Recovery Fund at the summit this weekend?

That remains to be seen. There's a huge amount that needs to be decided, both concerning the immensely big recovery fund and also the entire seven-year budget for the entire European Union. And there are significant divergences between views, so far. So, there might be a deal, but it might also be somewhat delayed. I'm quite certain at the end of the day there will be the deal.

Does the result of the North Macedonia election make it more likely that the Balkan country will start to enter the European Union?

Yes, in the sense that I think that there will be the start of negotiations for accession of North Macedonia to the European Union starting by the end of this year. And that is a significant breakthrough for a country that has been in a difficult situation prior both to the agreement on Greece, with Greece on the name, and this election. So, it's a positive sign for the region.