Athens, 5 July 2024 (MIA) - The process of EU integration should focus on the adoption of European legislation, while bilateral issues should be treated separately, Austria’s Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said in an interview for Greek newspaper Ta Nea, noting that specifically for North Macedonia, the constitutional amendments and respect for international agreements are clear prerequisites, MIA’s Athens correspondent reports.

Speaking about the region’s EU perspective, the Austrian top diplomat noted that more than 20 years ago in Thessaloniki “we promised EU membership to the Western Balkan countries” and “it is time to do this”, adding that alongside Greece, as “friends of the Western Balkans”, they are helping achieve this goal as soon as possible.

“However, we need to reassess the enlargement process, to distance ourselves from the binary thinking of ‘inside or outside’. I support a gradual integration into EU policies, such as the internal market, on the path to full integration, so the citizens of the region can experience the benefits sooner and maintain their trust. There are clear prerequisites for North Macedonia to continue the process, such as the constitutional amendments on the minorities, and it is clear that the international agreements should be fully respected. However, the EU integration process should focus on the adoption of European legislation, while the bilateral issues should be treated separately. Let’s focus on a shared, prosperous European future instead of being stuck in the past,” Schallenberg said in the interview.

The Austrian Foreign Minister visited Athens on Wednesday. After meeting Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, he noted that there shouldn’t be additional bilateral difficulties regarding the Western Balkan’s EU perspective, adding that he expects Athens to support this proposal.