Bled, 28 August 2023 (MIA) - Membership in the European Union by 2030 is achievable. We have to do our best in terms of reforms, and the EU has to find the strength to put enlargement in a priority position, said Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski at the Leaders’ Panel held as part of the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia.

“North Macedonia has shown that it can make tough and brave decision and after every each and one of them we have come out as a stronger country and that’s why we are at this moment I would say out of all the candidate countries, the best, by many aspects. In terms of the Acquis implementation, micro-financial stability, [which has been] proved by EU reports and instruments. And that's why I'm saying the 2030 goal is achievable,” said Kovachevski.

The PM noted that the country became an EU candidate member even before the 2003 Thessaloniki process.

“At that time we were not even North Macedonia, we were Macedonia, Montenegro was not independent and Kosovo was not independent, so that’s how long the process took. And when you say 50 percent are pro-EU, then I would say this is great optimism after 20 years. You mentioned the frustration, yes there is a great deal of frustration. There is other public opinion research which says that 80 percent of the citizens are for Euro integration and pro-European, but at the same time 80 percent of the citizens are against blockades which are coming one after another. These blockades are coming from member countries in waves, which are used mainly for their domestic politics, and not the international scene,” said the Prime Minister.

EU membership, he said, is the only alternative for the Western Balkan countries because their economies are connected.

“Our people live and work in the EU when they live abroad. I had a chance to see my Macedonians who work and live in Koper, but also I noticed that when you're going on the riviera it's like you are in Bosnia and Herzegovina because all the waiters are coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Why? For higher salaries… And I saw a few Macedonian students who work in the cafés, and you know what they told me, please do everything to put our country in the EU, we want to go back home and work in an EU country but at home, not here in Slovenia,” said Kovachevski.

Photo: MIA