Ohrid, 30 June 2022 (MIA) - It is the right and it is high time that we should accelerate the tempo for the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania to become members of the European Union, former Greek prime minister George Papandreou stated Thursday. Speaking to members of the media at the Macedonian Energy Forum 2022, taking place Thursday and Friday in Ohrid, Papandreou said the Ukraine crisis has pointed out the need for a stronger political will for opening of the EU accession process for North Macedonia and Albania. We'd waited for far too long to bring North Macedonia and the Western Balkans closer to the EU, he said. "Now, it is the right time to accelerate our tempo especially after the crisis in Ukraine." Papandreou, who signed the so called Thessaloniki Declaration on the future of the Western Balkans in his capacity as Greek foreign minister, recalled that the two countries had had differences before settling them. He recommended the same for the blockade by Bulgaria to be lifted. "We'd had our differences in the past. Our two countries, Greece and North Macedonia, had overcome them after making difficult political sacrifices. I'd recommend the same with Bulgaria. We have to lead as we really have a wonderful joint future," Papandreou said.