Brussels, 24 September 2024 (MIA) - EU member states are prepared to support us in the accession process, with the goal of completing it as soon as possible, said Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani, who participated Tuesday in the EU General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting in Brussels.

The main topic of the GAC meeting was the European Commission's 2024 Rule of Law Report, which, in addition to the EU member states, for the first time also included the four Western Balkan countries involved in the accession process – North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, and Montenegro.

“The fact that candidate countries from the Western Balkans are being incorporated into the rule of law mechanism for the first time - previously intended only for EU member states - is a crucial step in what we call "phasing in." This further confirms that the EU is opening its doors to candidate countries and consistently including us in mechanisms that are meant solely for EU members,” Murtezani noted, who also serves as the country’s chief negotiator with the European Union.

He pointed out that the main focus of the discussions at the meeting was on the rule of law, specifically the conditions in the judiciary and the reforms of the judicial system, the fight against corruption and organized crime, as well as freedom of speech and the media.

“The efforts made so far by the candidate countries, including the Republic of North Macedonia in this case, have certainly been favorably acknowledged, and we have been encouraged to continue with our reforms. We are faced with significant challenges and obstacles that we are firmly resolved to overcome,” Murtezani noted.

Murtezani stated that the new government must particularly focus on "mitigating the effects inflicted by the previous government with the enactment of the Criminal Code" in the near future, which, as he pointed out, is regarded in Brussels as anti-European and inconsistent with European values.

“We must adopt a Criminal Code that aligns with the standards of the European Union, so that it does not become an obstacle to the country's further progress toward full membership,” Murtezani stressed.

With regard to the criticism in the report concerning the misuse of the "European Flag" instrument for fast-tracking laws, Murtezani highlighted that the parties currently in the ruling coalition had previously denounced this practice while in opposition, particularly for enacting laws that were unrelated to the EU and its legislation.

“That practice is already being abandoned in the Parliament. We must harmonize both the Parliament and all institutions with the functioning methods required by the EU. In the report, and also during today's meeting, a very strong message was conveyed that the Parliament should not focus on narrow political interests, but rather that there must be dialogue among all in the Parliament regarding the strategic direction and priorities of the state,” Murtezani said in a statement to MIA.

During his stay in Brussels today, Murtezani held brief meetings with his counterparts from the three other Western Balkan candidate countries for EU membership, as well as with several ministers attending the GAC meeting, including German State Minister for Europe Anna Lührmann and the new French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.

At the meetings, it was agreed that Murtezani and Lührmann to hold a bilateral meeting on October 14 in Brussels, while the newly appointed French Minister expressed interest in visiting the country.

“There are numerous spheres and fields where we can learn from them and from all European countries. My impression from the meeting is that everyone is willing to help us, either with their expertise or in any other way, in this process (of Euro-integration), which is taking too long for our country, so that we can wrap it up as soon as possible,” Murtezani said.

Photo: MIA

Video: EBS