Minister Mucunski stressed that it is time to advance towards the EU, recalling that North Macedonia has had candidate status since 2005 and has made important reforms, including changing its constitutional name. He demanded that the EU provide a clear strategy for integration, recognizing the progress made. Brussels is decisive in its positions: Adopt constitutional changes
“It is time to move forward towards the EU, we are prepared for a dialogue with good will.” This was the message delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timco Mucunski, to the ambassadors of the European Union member states accredited in the country, during a working meeting. Mucunski reminded the ambassadors that North Macedonia has had candidate status since 2005. Since then, Mucunski said that the country has been engaged in radical reforms that have been requested by the European Union, while in order to become part of the Union, the country has also been forced to make serious compromises, such as changing the constitutional name of the state.
“The accession process to the European Union must remain credible, based on merit and ensure predictability. The progress we have made must be recognized, and the support from you, the EU member states, is key to maintaining confidence in the European perspective. This year, unfortunately, we mark a notorious jubilee, the 20th anniversary of obtaining the status of candidate country. To be precise, two decades where we have brought a series of major decisions, where we have made painful compromises in the name of the process of integration into the European Union”, emphasized Mucunski before the ambassadors of the EU countries in Skopje.
He assessed that it is time for the Union to come up with a clear strategy regarding how to proceed with North Macedonia in the integration process, saying that it is necessary to make decisions that will have a greater impact on the positive perception of citizens towards the European Union.
EU Ambassador Mihalis Rokas, on the other hand, expressed optimism for 2025, as, according to him, it began with the ribbon cutting for two very important projects from Corridor 8 and Corridor 10. He also emphasized the importance of the approved reform agenda, while hoping that the country will finally be able to make progress in terms of Euro-integration.
“When we strive to deliver results, we prove that anything is possible. I hope that this year will not only be about cutting ribbons, but also about progress in the integration process. We have an excellent platform to work on, the reform agenda is an excellent document, but it also contains some important points that need to be fulfilled during 2025.” Rokas recalled that the new leadership in the EU has revitalized the enlargement process and put it at the center of the Union’s agenda.
BRUSSELS ORDERED: APPROVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
However, the latest messages from Brussels remain clear, the country must adopt the constitutional changes. This has recently been reiterated by the new European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos. Before the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Marta Kos said that she hopes that North Macedonia will implement the constitutional changes necessary for progress in European integration, thus making it clear that fulfilling obligations is key to continuing the process.
“We hope that North Macedonia will change its Constitution,” Kos noted, adding that the same principles apply to all candidate countries. As an example, she pointed to Serbia, which failed to meet the criteria for opening the “Competition” cluster in December. Kos announced that during the Polish presidency she expects significant progress in negotiations with the Western Balkan countries, as well as the opening of negotiation groups with Ukraine and Moldova.
“If the candidate countries remain committed to reforms, we can achieve more progress under the Polish presidency than in the last ten years,” Kos said, noting that up to ten intergovernmental conferences are possible. Kos reiterated the need for dialogue between North Macedonia and Bulgaria, stressing that without resolving bilateral issues, progress in European integration will not be possible.
BULGARIA WAITING FOR A NEW GOVERNMENT
Meanwhile, in Bulgaria, a new government is expected to be formed soon. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev will give the mandate to form a government to the candidate for prime minister, Rosen Zhelyaskov, who has been proposed by the largest parliamentary group in the 51st National Assembly – GERB-SDS. The way for the formation of a new government in Sofia has also been paved by the support of the “Democracy, Rights and Freedom” party led by Ahmet Dogan, which decided last night during the vote in the National Assembly to support the cabinet of GERB-SDS, BSP-United Left and “There is such a people”, thus paving the way for the formation of a new Bulgarian government.
“Democracy, Rights and Freedoms” will also express its support through the signing of an Annex as part of the Agreement on the parliamentary majority for the implementation of the government program between the political parties GERB-SDS, BSP-United Left and There Is Such a People,” the party’s announcement said last night.
This is expected to end the long political uncertainty in Bulgaria, where seven parliamentary elections were held between 2021 and last year, of which two election cycles took place last year. With some minor and temporary exceptions, no political force has managed to hold power for a long time in Bulgaria, and the country has been led by caretaker governments for a long period of time. The issue that Bulgaria may soon have a political government is being followed with interest in Macedonia due to expectations that the Macedonian government will have an interlocutor with full political legitimacy for talks on unblocking the country’s integration process. “The warnings are that there will soon be a political government there, and this is something that we have been waiting for for a long time,” Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski stressed. However, no political party in Bulgaria has so far expressed a softer stance regarding the dispute with North Macedonia.
Otherwise, Macedonian-Bulgarian relations remain tense due to the dispute over the Macedonian language, history and the rights of the Bulgarian minority. Although Bulgaria has withdrawn its veto on the start of negotiations in 2022, the conditionality of constitutional amendments to include the Bulgarian people as an integral part of the Macedonian Constitution still blocks the second intergovernmental conference with the EU. The European Commissioner expressed optimism, but stressed that she cannot give guarantees for avoiding future blockages, leaving the responsibility to the member states and political actors. (koha.mk)
