Brdo near Kranj, 6 October 2021 (MIA) — The EU and the Western Balkans will always be stronger together, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said at a session of the EU–Western Balkans Summit in Slovenia on Wednesday, expressing his hope that the Bulgarian blockade to EU enlargement would be overcome and that December 2021 would bring a better outcome for North Macedonia’s EU integration process. “We all have a responsibility here to do this,” he added. “I believe and I hope you all share my opinion that we need new impetus to speed up the decision-making process, because the blockade will continue to encourage retrograde forces opposed to European unity and values, which are also the values ​​the Western Balkans have accepted and nurtured,” PM Zaev said. He said North Macedonia had met all requirements for starting EU talks, which was confirmed in March 2020, and was ready to take additional steps as long as the same responsibility was expected from the other side. “In the spirit of European good neighborly relations, we will intensify talks with our neighbor Bulgaria and will sincerely take steps towards resolving open issues. “So far, we have shown readiness and constructive contribution in resolving bilateral issues through respecting each other and protecting our national dignity, but identity issues are simply impossible to negotiate,” the prime minister said. North Macedonia would continue its reforms, Zaev noted, listing the "Action 2021" and "Europe at home" strategies that strongly focus on implementing European values. “The EU must find a formula on how to keep its word and continue its enlargement with the Western Balkans,” Zaev said. “The citizens of North Macedonia will see an enormous failure in the Union’s policies if we don’t urgently deliver the European perspective to them. “This process has no alternative, so we remain committed to our strategic goal of joining the EU through fully implementing European values ​​and standards in the Republic of North Macedonia.” mr/