Skopje, 17 January 2025 (MIA) - All political parties should continually contribute to strengthening the Parliament's role as a forum for constructive and inclusive political dialogue, thus accelerating European Union membership reforms, EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas told a joint session of the National Euro-Integration Council and the Committee for European Affairs in the Parliament on Friday.

Ambassador Rokas said the favorable momentum for enlargement in the European Commission should be seized so that the country starts the Union accession talks.

"There is real momentum, a real commitment. We are committed and ready to help you on this path. As you all witnessed in the recent reports from Brussels, there is enormous interest and goodwill towards the Republic of North Macedonia for opening of the first accession chapter. The new Council President, the new Commissioner for Enlargement and the new European Commission Vice-President have all expressed their support for your EU path," Rokas told the session focused on the 2024 European Commission country report.

The Ambassador said MPs should seize the opportunity in the best possible way, "first and foremost, for the sake of the citizens who want to be part of the European Union".

According to him, the spirit of permanent and good cooperation between the Parliament and the newly-elected European Parliament has been reconfirmed with the 23rd meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee that will take place in Skopje and the communication with the new Rapporteur, MEP Thomas Weitz, while adding that the Jean Monnet dialogue represents another avenue in the reform efforts.

Rokas also said that nominations and appointments at certain positions in state institutions and agencies should be timely and merit-based, whereas the use of the EU-flag procedure of adopting laws should be used only when it includes legislation that is aligned with the EU Acquis.

On the EC report, the EU Ambassador said the previous parliament composition completed its term in a generally satisfactory manner, political polarization was present and there were certain delays regarding appointments to certain positions in state institutions.

"The parliamentary and presidential elections were competitive and conducted mostly satisfactory. Limited progress was made on addressing the OSCE/ODIHR and Venice Commission recommendations. North Macedonia should implement the recommendations rapidly and well before the next
elections. The Parliament did not manage to reach a two-thirds majority required to adopt the constitutional changes, with a view to including in the Constitution citizens who live within the borders of the state and who are part of other peoples, such as Bulgarians," said Rokas.

He added that North Macedonia has fully aligned with the EU common foreign and security policy and fully adhered to the sanctions against the Russian Federation, "once again demonstrating it is the Union's credible partner".

Deputy Minister of European Affairs Viktorija Trajkov said the European Commission has given an objective picture about the country's readiness to implement European standards.

"I expect the next report to be better. The Government is committed to the reform agenda and the Ministry of European Affairs expects all relevant institutions to do their part of the job. We have a good plan and we will work on it," said Trajkov.

National Euro-Integration Council chairman Venko Filipche said acceleration of reforms in key areas is necessary for the country's progress and "we should all contribute to the opening of the first cluster", while announcing that Council sessions would be more frequent in the coming period.

"In a way, we will control and support the Government in the realization of the tasks ahead, primarily in the reform agenda. We should continue to maintain the consensus on the European Union membership. I believe that representatives of all political and economic stakeholders here today will contribute to the acceleration of this process, resulting in the opening of the first cluster during this Parliament," underlined Filipche.

Photo: MIA