Skopje, 12 December 2023 (MIA) – Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani participated Tuesday in a discussion organized by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) on the topic of “How to convince the European public to enlarge the EU”.

The discussion discussed new ECFR polling data from surveys carried out in six EU member states (Germany, France, Denmark, Austria, Poland, Romania) ahead of this week’s Summit of the Union which will focus on enlargement. Apart from Osmani, other participants in the discussion were Lykke Friis, Director of Tænkentanken Europa, and Engjellushe Morina, Senior Policy Fellow at the ECFR.

“Today, more than ever, there is a geopolitical imperative regarding the enlargement of the EU. Let’s not forget that the Balkans is also on the ‘firing line’ defending the liberal values of the West, while at the same time becoming a target for foreign malign influence with far-reaching consequences for the entire European continent. That’s why the EU must reconsider its approach and allow an accelerated EU process with tangible benefits for the candidates that meet the conditions. With this step, the EU will begin to build a defensive, geopolitical shield for the defense of its own democracy by including the remaining countries from Southeastern Europe,” said Osmani.

Touching upon the survey, the Foreign Minister urged the EU leaders and the candidate states to invest joint efforts in order to convince the citizens and the broader European public of their own interest in the accession of future member states.

Osmani also shared the results of a public survey in North Macedonia, underlining that the long Euro-integration process and previous bilateral conditions have resulted in a downward trend when it comes to the citizens’ support for EU accession. In that context, Osmani noted that delays in the accession process negatively affect social dynamics, with the effect of slowed down EU integrations resulting in a negative “developmental dependence” between the negotiations and the reforms.

“This worrying trend should be avoided through a change in narrative, but also by introducing rules to the game. Instead of placing the focus on membership as the final outcome, the EU should offer our citizens as many midterm goals and tangible benefits as possible – that’s why I strive for greater integration ahead of membership as our response to the concept of gradual integration,” said Osmani.

The Foreign Minister said it is necessary for the concept of gradual accession, which is being discussed in all European capital and in Brussels, to materialize in the decisions of the Council in the coming days and to begin to be implemented. The basic package envisages attendance at various meetings of the EU Council without the right to vote (observer status) and participation in the Single Market, as well as access to the EU’s structural and cohesion funds.

Photo: MFA