Skopje, 7 May 2024 (MIA) – Belgian diplomat Peter Vanhoutte following an initiative by the EU presidency, held by Belgium, is at a helm of a project to serve as a mediator between Skopje and Sofia to pave the way for constitutional changes and to secure guarantees that North Macedonia’s road to EU accession will no longer be hindered.  

Speaking to Nezavisen online daily, Vanhoutte explains that the EU-helmed project is financed by the Belgium government because it believes in the benefits of talks and making compromises. Led by Vanhoutte, the project will be managed and organized by the EU Institute for Security Studies and will be open until all goals are met. 

The project will have two components with the first including mediation for the relations between Bulgaria and North Macedonia aimed at removing open issues and opening the way for the country to negotiate with the EU. The second component includes the establishment of an institutional capacity in the country with a focus on training of young politicians who will change the way politics in the country functions and who will implement the values of western European democracies.  

My main goal, Vanhoutte told Nezavisen, is to make sure that the process of joining the EU will no longer be blocked and I’m open for all options and to hear out all the requests and to try and find a solution.

Vanhoutte announced he will have talks with the representatives of all relevant political parties in the country to hear out their requests and possible suggestions saying he is open for any kind of proposal that may help in progress to be made to unblock the EU negotiations among other issues. After his meetings in Skopje, he will travel to Sofia for similar talks. 

Vanhoutte in the country had been appointed before as a mediator to secure the Przhino Agreement, where he was also engaged in a project in the Macedonian Parliament.  

Photo: MIA archive