News
12/3/2021 01:35
The Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov, as a member of the National European Integration council (NEIC) operating within the Assembly, took part today at a session during which in a highly productive atmosphere, presented the findings and recommendations of the Report by the European Commission 2021 for the country.
The Deputy Prime Minister Dimitrov stressed that European integration is a process that has united Macedonian society:
Dimitrov: “European integration is one of the few things on which we all agree and I look on this process as an opportunity for joint action and alliance, and especially when accession negotiations begin, the opposition will have an opportunity and position to mobilise in the sense of a joint front, as many countries have done before us.”
In that sense, reflecting the findings of the European Commission, he added that North Macedonia is fully prepared to begin accession negotiations and any future delay will additionally compromise the credibility of the European Union in the entire region.
Dimitrov: “The Commission itself states that North Macedonia must start accession negotiations immediately because it is geo-strategic priority and the Union’s interest and that every future delay will only compromise the credibility of the European Union here at home but also in the entire region. In other words, the citizens have become wary of the declarations and promises made by the European Union. The progress of the process shall serve as a confirmation and the accession process points to enlargement based on the membership criteria and the progress made by each country will be measured on merit, as opposed to conditions and requests that are not in line and are more often than not contrary to European values – if the EU is simultaneously a community of values and not just a giant market.”
Dimitrov presented the findings and recommendations of the Report in terms of the content and in terms of the degree of preparedness and progress, in accordance with the Commission’s methodology, but also from a comparative aspect of the situation in the region, whereby he indicated that in the first cluster “Fundamentals”, North Macedonia is better prepared than Montenegro or Serbia that are now in the stage of negotiations.
Dimitrov: “In terms of progress, we have a slight decrease of dynamics and the medium assessment for the same period is 2,83, and it is obvious that we need an incentive, we need to start the accession process, which will also impact on the motivation of services, civil servants and generally society – it’ll have the potential to change the entire political atmosphere in the country. However, even this Report shows that the accession process isn’t a magic wand and will not change things overnight. The fact that it’s delayed perhaps creates an impression that once it begins it’ll change things overnight, however that is the wrong impression. Our work at home depends on us absolutely. The context is important, perspective is of course important, as is enthusiasm; however, this job of organising the Macedonian society definitely depends on us and our society. I think, at least on this matter we have an absolute consensus from all political stakeholders, small or large.”
Deputy Prime Minister Dimitrov’s comments were welcomed by other members of NEIC who unanimously agreed that it is high time for the EU to begin membership accession negotiations. The session was attended by the Deputy Chief of the EU Delegation – Julian Vassallo and the Slovenian Ambassador Milan Predan, as a representative of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of EU.