Skopje, 26 April 2023 (MIA) – After numerous challenges on the path to full-fledged EU membership, North Macedonia made a historic step forward in 2022 and began its EU accession talks. Many in North Macedonia are not convinced that we made the right decision and our joint goal should be to convince them that the enlargement process is alive and that our citizens will soon have a chance to see concrete benefits from the coming transformation, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani in his address Wednesday to the members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET).

The Foreign Minister noted the country’s successful beginning of the screening process and said that the Macedonian negotiating teams are fully prepared to answer to all tasks regarding the harmonization and implementation of the EU Acquis.

“However, what is especially important for us in the upcoming period is that we receive the Screening Report on Cluster 1 – Fundamentals from the European Commission as soon as possible, and begin concrete work on the drafting of the three roadmaps, on the rule of law, public administration reform, and functioning of democratic institutions, as well as the Action Plan on minorities and communities, which we accepted in order to demonstrate that North Macedonia has a lot to offer to the EU,” said Osmani.

Osmani underlined that the Russian aggression on Ukraine has thoroughly changed the geopolitical reality, stressing that North Macedonia joined the EU and the international partners in their unanimous condemnation of the unjustified and unprovoked aggression on a sovereign country, and provided humanitarian, military and diplomatic aid in line with its means.

“North Macedonia joined all restrictive measures that the EU adopted against Russia, including those adopted in 2014, reaching 100 percent alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. By doing so, we reaffirm our commitment to the European values and principles which the EU foreign policy is based on, while also affirming our partnership with the EU and the strategic European orientation. We are also conveying our support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine through our OSCE Chairpersonship, which we assumed at the beginning of 2023 in very difficult conditions,” stressed Osmani.

Foreign Minister Osmani also spoke about the domestic reforms, stressing that the country remains fully committed to boosting the functioning of democratic institutions and the rule of law, areas which, he said, are crucial for the next steps in the process.

Additionally, Osmani stated that the implementation of the Prespa Agreement with Greece and the Treaty of Friendship with Bulgaria, through dialogue based on mutual respect in the spirit of the European values, are and will remain the country’s top priorities.

“In the upcoming period, our Government will invest maximum efforts for a successful implementation of the necessary reforms, especially when it comes to the rule of law, successful conclusion of the screening process, and fulfilling the conditions from the conclusions of the EU Council from July 2022, for the adoption of constitutional amendments with the goal of opening Cluster 1 – Fundamentals by the end of 2023. We’ve set an ambitious goal for ourselves – North Macedonia to be fully prepared to take upon the obligations of EU membership by the end of 2030. A lot of work awaits us for this to become reality,” underlined Osmani.

Osmani also sent a message to “the Bulgarian friends, that the tasks from the Agreement and the two protocols have not been forgotten.”

“I am personally overseeing the working groups for the realization of the mutual tasks, and soon we will come out with the results of their work in the area of hate speech, rehabilitation of the victims of repression during the communist period, implementation of the adopted recommendations of the joint commission on historical issues, as well as on protection from discrimination. However, at the same time, we ask for the conditions for a constructive and well-intentioned dialogue based on mutual respect. I believe that we will be able to achieve this very soon, with the forming of the new Government in Sofia,” said Osmani.

Osmani noted the dilemmas and fears of the Macedonian citizens, as well as the unique opportunity ahead of the country.

“Because of the heated democratic exchange, this opportunity is not fully recognized yet, but very soon we will face, each in our own way, our own responsibility. Towards Europe, with more integration down the path to full-fledged membership, or backwards to new divisions and wasted time,” said Osmani.

The new complex geopolitical reality, he said, has highlighted the need for greater focus and engagement by the EU in the Western Balkan region with the dynamization of the accession process, which will contribute to democratic development, stability, and prosperity of the societies and all citizens. Additionally, Osmani said it is important for the negotiations process to generate tangible benefits in the early stage, in areas in which North Macedonia will demonstrate significant progress.

“One of the key aspects could concern the needs to create a package similar to the EU’s structural and cohesion funds. This will enable North Macedonia’s greater economic and social convergence with the countries of the EU, i.e., a reduction in economic disparity, as the essential goal of the accession process and EU membership. I believe that such an approach requires serious attention, and we believe that the EU will find a way for its concrete implementation,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani in his address to AFET members.

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