Skopje, 26 November 2025 (MIA) — European integration is not built in Brussels, but at home, through decisions and consensus, Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi said at the eighth plenary conference of the National Convention on the European Union held Wednesday in Parliament.

Gashi stressed that bilateral issues cannot be allowed to hinder progress toward the EU, pointing to Albania and Montenegro as examples that the goal is realistic and achievable.

"We should not compete through rhetoric, but through finding common solutions to common problems," he said.

National Council for European Integration chair Venko Filipche warned that the country was stagnating because of insufficient political will for substantial reforms.

"The EU report clearly states there have been no reforms. We are wasting time. This is one of the worst reports the country has received," Filipche said, pointing out that there was no progress in key areas such as the judiciary, the fight against corruption and media reforms.

He said a broad political consensus was necessary for the implementation of reforms and constitutional amendments, adding that Parliament should reach an agreement on the country's European future.

Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs deputy chair Igor Zdravkovski said the National Convention on the EU fostered inclusive public debate, involving the government, Parliament, civil society and academia.

"Our reforms have to continue because any stagnation or deviation from European reforms will push us into a dead end and will only mean wasted time and energy," he said, recalling that the European Commission's Growth Plan for the Western Balkans offered financial assistance for inclusive and sustainable reforms.

He said legal reforms regarding ​​the rule of law needed to be the result of a broad political, expert and social consensus.

Zdravkovski also said Parliament would no longer misuse the EU-flagged fast-track procedure and would guarantee "a transparent and predictable process."

"Let's do our homework first, and then turn to dialogue," he said.

The conference, discussing the topic "Reforms on the Other Side of Rhetoric: Regional Challenges on the Road to the EU," was attended by Members of Parliament, ambassadors, legal experts, scholars and representatives from Slovakia, Albania and Serbia. mr/