Skopje, 8 June 2022 (MIA) – European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi said North Macedonia must make it in June and everyone must work on it. In an interview with Sitel TV on Wednesday, Várhelyi said he was traveling to Sofia following the Open Balkan Summit in Ohrid. He stressed that everyone wants a result that is acceptable to both countries. “I’m not a fan of betting, but working. As long as there’s the slightest chance, I’ll continue to work. I’m immediately traveling to Sofia now and I’ll continue to work for a solution in June,” said the EU Commissioner when asked to comment on North Macedonia’s chances given that there are only two weeks left until the EU Summit. He stressed he’ll continue to visit Sofia until a solution is found. “I’ll continue to visit Sofia until we find a solution. The messages I received there were nothing new, to be honest. We’re going around the same topics, but we try to find different options on how to unblock things. It’s too early to say at this stage, but I hope more work will help us reach the goal,” said Várhelyi. Asked what happens if the country misses this chance to start negotiations and whether it will get a place in a new political organization, as announced by Macron, Várhelyi reiterated that North Macedonia must make it. “We are here to do the job, we are here to make it. North Macedonia must make it and we all must work on it. This political umbrella, as I call it, is an additional element, and we had a pretty clear explanation from those who proposed it. It is a complementary element that will create much more dialogue in the region at a higher political level. This will bring the region closer to Europe, but we will certainly need to continue with the enlargement process, and therefore it can bring tangible benefits to the region,” the EU Commissioner pointed out. As regards Macron’s statement on Tuesday that there’s possibility of a new agreement between North Macedonia and Bulgaria, Várhelyi said he’s closely working with the French EU Presidency, but it would be too early to say at this point. “Not a single stone will be left unturned until we do this. The French Presidency is deeply committed. Macron is personally engaged in all this. I believe everyone wants a result, a result that is acceptable for the two countries and that would allow us to keep moving and finally hold the first intergovernmental conference and continue with North Macedonia’s accession process,” said Várhelyi. Asked whether North Macedonia and Albania can be decoupled on the European path and what happens then, the EU Commissioner reiterated that the focus is on North Macedonia to make it in June. “We have to make it,” said Várhelyi.