Skopje, 3 October 2024 (MIA) - Our Euro-integration process is still hampered by obstacles that seem increasingly unjust and this not only tests the resilience of institutions but also the people's patience, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski told the Autumn Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), held this week in Strasbourg.

"Imagine the disappointment of a nation that did everything it was asked to do, only to tell it that the goal is still unattainable. How can one keep hope when you feel that the principles of the European Union - solidarity, justice and unity - are unequally applied?" said FM Mucunski.

Nevertheless, despite the long integration process, said Mucunski, the Government remains committed to thorough reforms and the principles that the Union membership is founded on.

"We will not allow these injustices to stimulate Euro-skepticism. Instead, we will continue to fight for our deserved place in Europe, guided by the belief that justice will prevail at the end. The road maybe long but we remain committed to the European values and we will continue to promote a process that is just, transparent and based on mutual respect," said the FM.

He recalled that 2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of the country's membership in the Council of Europe and 20 years from the European Council's decision to give it the EU candidate status.

"This period was a time of transformation, in which the CoE played a significant role in the implementation of reforms and fulfillment of European standards in key areas. Despite all the challenges on the path to EU membership, completion of the European integration process is inevitable, whereas the speed of this process largely depends on the predictability and credibility of the Union accession process," noted Mucunski.

In his remarks, the FM also referred to the current crises and challenges that Europe is faced with, such as the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the pandemic consequences, the economic crisis, the backtracking of democracy, the rise of extremism and disinformation, trafficking with migrants, as well as the impact of climate change and new technologies.

Mucunski highlighted the importance of CoE and its legal instruments and monitoring mechanisms to overcome these challenges, while focusing on their impact on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. In this context, he stressed the role of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and the importance of enhancing the system of the European Convention on Human Rights, especially the implementation of the court's judgments by member-states, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said in a press release.

Photo: MFAFT