Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski assessed that the messages sent by the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat were the strongest he has heard in the past two years since he has been at the head of the Government, stressing that the process of expanding the European Union remains open and active, reported MIA.
He pointed out that French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sent a clear message that the countries of the region should continue with reforms and progress based on merit, not through bilateral disputes.
– In these two years since I have been the President of the Government, the messages from the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat have been the strongest. The main message was that the expansion process is not over. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have given strong impetus to continue reforms and deliver results based on the principle of merit rather than bilateral issues. It was emphasized several times at the summit itself – said Mickoski.
Speaking about the so-called “non-paper” prepared by Macron and Merz, the Prime Minister indicated that European institutions have already received instructions for its operationalization.
– From the conversations with the French president and the German chancellor, as well as from the working part of the Summit, I could conclude that the institutions in Brussels are already working on the implementation of this document. It represents a significant increase in the level of relations between the European Union and the countries of the Western Balkans and enables greater use of certain European mechanisms and tools by the countries of the region. This process is not in conflict with the expansion – it is a question of two parallel processes – emphasized Mickoski.
According to him, one of the concrete benefits will be significantly more frequent communication between leaders from the region and European institutions.
– It was agreed that the meetings will no longer be held only twice a year, as was the case with the EU-Western Balkans summits. Instead, there will be at least two meetings per month. This means that we will be able to talk directly with the people who make decisions, participate in policy making and jointly build the future – said the Prime Minister.
He added that he returns from the Summit “satisfied and inspired” for even more intensive work of the Government.
Referring to the remarks that Macedonia was not mentioned at the press conference in Tivat and the views that without constitutional amendments there is no progress in European integration, Mickoski emphasized that his optimism stems from the direct conversations he had with Macron and Mertz.
– I was the only leader from the Western Balkans who had bilateral meetings with both President Macron and Chancellor Mertz. I know exactly what was discussed at those meetings and what will follow in the period ahead. I got answers to some of the dilemmas I had and that’s exactly why I’m optimistic – he said.
The prime minister rejected claims that the initiative of Macron and Merz cannot be applied to Macedonia because the country has not yet started the cluster negotiations.
– The plan covers all six countries from the Western Balkans, regardless of the level at which they are in the European integration process. It is not directly related to the enlargement, but represents a parallel mechanism for greater integration with the European Union – emphasized Mickoski.
Regarding the constitutional amendments, the Prime Minister reiterated that he will not support any solution without clear guarantees for the final outcome of the process.
– While I am the President of the Government, I will never support constitutional amendments without a clear end and without guarantees that the process will begin and end. Only if there are clear guarantees that no new bilateral or identity conditioning will follow, such a step can be discussed. I will not support anything else – Mickoski said.
He added that both Macron and Mertz have shown serious interest in this issue and he expects the talks to intensify in the coming period.
Referring to relations with Bulgaria, Mickoski said that European principles must apply equally to everyone.
– It is unprincipled to refer to human rights, while at the same time having 14 judgments from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and not allowing the registration of an organization of Macedonians in Bulgaria. Either European principles apply to everyone or they do not apply to anyone. These are the fundamental European values - emphasized the Prime Minister.
He emphasized that Macedonia is ready to seek a solution, but without additional humiliation and without an uncertain outcome.
– It is important that we will be present in Brussels much more often and that we will be able to talk directly. That is significantly more than one, two or three years ago. I call on the Macedonian public not to succumb to pressures that bring an uncertain end and further national humiliation. We must be careful, precise and follow the clear strategy that we have as a Government. We have friends and step by step we will reach the goal – Mickoski said.
