News
12/17/2022 05:15
The Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Bojan Maricikj, on the occasion of the anniversary of North Macedonia receiving candidate status for EU membership, says that after 17 years of waiting, today we are a negotiating country with the EU, and now everything is in our hands.
Below is the full text:
"After 17 years of waiting, the European future of the country is in our hands. Back in 2005, we received candidate status for EU membership, and this December 17, North Macedonia is a negotiating country with the European Union. We did a historic step in European integration. Today, we have the task of standing in front of this statesmanship project responsibly and with a strong political will for fundamental reforms, to successfully complete it. It is our duty to the citizens. 17 years of successes and failures, progress and setbacks on the European path, but we have no time to lose anymore. With a clear plan and vision, which we should all stand for, focused on the reform agenda, we must promptly advance in the process and the citizens to feel the benefits of the negotiations with the EU. The pace of the screening process takes place according to the calendar provided by the European Commission. We have successfully completed the bilateral screening for Cluster 1, "Fundamental values", in January we continue with the bilateral meetings for Cluster 2, namely for Chapters 3, 6, and 7, i.e. "Right of establishment and freedom to provide services", "Company law" and "Intellectual property law". We have no more blockages from anyone but on the contrary. We have strong support from the European institutions, the member states, from the high European representatives. Let's not be the next veto by us.
2030 is really a year for the membership of North Macedonia in the EU, let's make it happen together", reads the post of the Deputy Prime Minister and chief negotiator with the EU, Maricikj.