Skopje, 22 September 2023 (MIA) – The position of France and French President Emmanuel Macron is that we want to enlarge the European family and we want North Macedonia to be a member of the EU, said the French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Olivier Becht, in an interview for “360 Degrees”.

Asked about France’s and President Macron’s position on EU enlargement and the potential accession of North Macedonia, Becht said “the real question posed today is not if we want [the Union] to enlarge, nor when, but how to do that” and stressed that “North Macedonia is welcome.”

“A few more efforts need to be made, especially the other member states, while we, as the EU, will need to resume our internal reforms, and that means deepening of the community so that the Union can function not with 27, but with 35 or more states,” said Becht.

Regarding the idea of a “multi-speed” Europe and whether it refers to the possibility of second-class EU member states, Becht underscored “there are no first-class, second-class or third-class states, all member states are on the same train.”

“Not at all, because when we join the EU, we are a full-fledged member. So, there are no first-class, second-class or third-class states, all member states are on the same train. But still, a train sometimes need locomotives – member states who progress and want to progress faster and add more fuel to the engine so it can progress faster,” said Becht.

Regarding the constitutional amendments, Becht expressed confidence that “the Macedonian Parliament will manage to overcome the blockade and find itself on the integration path once again, which we want to happen as soon as possible.”

“The French proposal, which we delivered during the French Presidency of the EU in 2022, was accompanied by great benefits. First, a removal of the blockade by other EU member states which enabled the Macedonian people to find themselves on the integration path yet again. And secondly, the recognition of the Macedonian language was really made possible. Today, this solution enabled a renewal of the integration process – I know that the situation is difficult even in the Macedonian Parliament, but what we need to understand is that today this EU accession process isn’t dependent on the blockade of the other EU member states, but on the Macedonian Parliament,” said Becht.

Photo: 360 Degrees