Skopje, 24 November 2022 (MIA) – Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj held Thursday a lecture at the Bruges-based College of Europe, saying peace and stability on the Balkans requires a clear plan for the region’s EU accession. “That is why we set 2030 as our priority goal over the country’s full-fledged membership. I am aware it is ungrateful to talk about timeframes and dates but I believe we should have a clear goal. European institutions and member-states should also understand that we aim to be more focused, more motivated and more efficient in the implementation of reforms,” said Deputy PM Marichikj. He explained there is one general division on the Balkans – a Balkan man or a European – while adding “we can be both”, the Secretariat for European Affairs said in a press release. “This will bring back the trust of EU citizens. If the Union proves to be a player on the Balkans it can be a player in global terms,” said Marichikj. College of Europe Rector Federica Mogherini said it was an honor and privilege to host members of governments from countries that are partners and associates. “I am a bit emotional this time, because we worked a lot with these people, we spent both joyous moments and challenges together. Through joint efforts, we signed big agreements such as Prespa,” said Mogherini. The College of Europe was the world’s first institute of postgraduate studies and training in European affairs. It was founded in 1949 by leading European figures such as Salvador de Madariaga, Winston Churchill, Paul Henri Spaak and Alcide De Gasperi in the wake of the first Congress of the European Movement in The Hague in 1948. The idea was to establish an institute where university graduates from many different European countries could study and live together in preparation for careers related to European cooperation and integration.