Skopje, 20 March 2023 (MIA) - We are not in a position to dictate how the EU membership processes will work out. In Serbia's case, this is a political price they are paying at the moment and it makes a big difference. They are kind of giving up territory, we don't have that kind of story. Joining the EU is our story and I don't expect anything to change in that regard, unless we implement the essential requirements such as the rule of law, resolving corruption and the whole package that implies a democratic environment and standards known in Europe, Director of the Media Information Agency (MIA), Dragan Antonovski, told Kanal 5 TV on Monday.

"Joining the European Union is our story, and we have to deliver in a way they perceive us, not how we imagine. Historical stories have been sidelined and I think they will stay sidelined. The Bulgarians will continue with their rhetoric, but I don't expect that Macedonia will be threatened in that regard unless it implements what it must," Antonovski said speaking about the process of the country's EU membership.  

As regards the French proposal, Antonovski believes perhaps it should have been explained beforehand, i.e. what are its pros and cons, and then build a consensus in society to move on.

"We saw that the opposition doesn't agree with the constitutional changes and now we are going for a phase where we say that we should include the opposition, make joint groups and see what we do next. That's a little too late. VMRO-DPMNE is pushing the story about the constitutional changes because it knows that the constitutional changes cannot happen in the Parliament without their votes. We are in a political crisis. They want to make elections happen, and elections will happen, they are not that far along. We go after the effects not after the causes. But what's the point? Do we want the EU and do we want a system, or do we want gaining power? This is the consequence of a crooked system, and we want to function like Europe without changing any habits," Antonovski added.