• Thursday, 29 May 2025
English
  • English
  • Shqip
  • Македонски

Security in Europe and EU enlargement with Western Balkans and East among Poland's Presidency priorities: ambassador

Security in Europe and EU enlargement with Western Balkans and East among Poland's Presidency priorities: ambassador

Skopje, 10 March 2025 (MIA) - The Polish EU Presidency is transpiring amid a complex geopolitical context. EU enlargement in both directions - Western Balkans and the East - is a process that makes us mutually stronger and our intentions are fully aligned with those of the EU Council, said Polish Ambassador Mariusz Brymora while presenting the Presidency priorities before the National Euro-Integration Council in Parliament on Monday.

Ambassador Brymora said the Polish Presidency is a good opportunity to reflect on the future of the Eastern Partnership initiated in 2009 by the then-foreign ministers of Poland and Sweden.

"We are taking action to revive the Eastern Partnership in order to better adapt to today's geopolitical context. Our efforts focus on making this partnership complementary to the enlargement process, an incentive for pro-European reforms in these countries, putting emphasis on security and hybrid threats," said Brymora.

On North Macedonia, the Ambassador voiced satisfaction from the bilateral communication between the countries' leaders.

"Minister (of European Affairs Orhan) Murtezani paid a visit to Warsaw twice already, we are working on a meeting between the Prime Ministers, which is set to take place in the coming weeks. We continue to support North Macedonia and other countries in the Western Balkans on the EU path through the twinning projects. As (European Enlargement Commissioner) Marta Kos put it, the enlargement process has been slow over the years, shown by the fact that only eight accession chapters were closed with all candidate-states over the past 12 years," noted Brymora.

Regarding transatlantic relations, he said it is one of the pillars of Poland's foreign policy, having the United States as a good ally while building a strong Europe.

Another priority of the Polish EU Presidency is enhancement of EU-US ties in the context of the Russian aggression on Ukraine.

"This is the main task of the EU and the Presidency, taking into consideration the decisions taken over the past few weeks. We want permanent and continued dialogue with the United States on China, the Pacific, energy policy and new technologies," said Brymora.

Deputy Minister for European Affairs Viktorija Trajkov said the Euro-integration process and economic development are among the Government's top priorities.

"Let me stress our commitment to speeding up reform processes and thus accomplishing our European agenda," said Trajkov while highlighting Poland's support as EU Presidency holder.

Committee of European Affairs chairman Antonio Miloshoski referred to the importance of transatlantic dialogue and its importance for all parties.

"When asking who are you for, America or Europe, the best answer would be 'for Donald' without mentioning the surname, because Donald is the President of the United States and Donald is the Prime Minister of Poland," noted Miloshoski.

National Euro-Integration Council chair Venko Filipche criticized the authorities of not doing anything with the Reform Agenda.

"About twenty pieces of legislation should be adopted by June and none are in parliamentary procedure as yet. These are laws in the fields of judiciary, energy, digitization and culture. We get the support from our partners but at the end of the day, it is up to us to do the job here in order to improve our system," said Filipche.

He added the Government made a strategic mistake by being abstained in the recent vote for the two UN resolutions, asking "what kind of signal are we sending to the world, not only to Europe?"

Photo: Screenshot