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The European Union, which will hold a summit with war-battered membership candidate Ukraine in Kyiv, has gone through several waves of expansion in the past 50 years.
North Macedonia and Albania both welcome changes proposed by the European Commission to the EU accession process, expressing hope that these will clear the way for them to begin formal membership talks soon.
The EU has agreed to open negotiations with Albania and the ex-Yugoslav republic of Macedonia on the countries joining the bloc starting in June next year, provided certain conditions are met.
The EU has backed the opening of formal membership talks with Albania and Macedonia as the bloc looks to expand into the Balkans and grow for the first time in years.