Skopje, 27 January 2024 (MIA) – For Belgium, the integration of the Western Balkans within the European Union represents a strategic question, and as part of its responsibilities as Presidency of the EU Council it wants to make progress in the enlargement issue, including the Western Balkans, the Belgian Ambassador to North Macedonia based in Sofia, Frédéric Meurice, told MIA in an interview.

On Thursday, Meurice attended an event at the Europe House in Skopje, hosted by the European Movement, where he presented the six priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the EU.

The Ambassador said the Union’s enlargement is a very important topic on the agenda of the Belgian Presidency. “Belgium is convinced in the strategic importance of enlargement. It is also convinced that this is a merit-based process that requires reforms as well. But, at the same time, during our Presidency, we want to achieve certain results in terms of enlargement, we want to have a negotiating framework with Ukraine and Moldova, intergovernmental conferences with Albania and North Macedonia, as well as the opening of new chapters with Serbia and Montenegro,” Meurice said.

The Ambassador also mentioned the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, noting that all financial provisions need to be finalized so that it can be implemented sooner. Afterwards, he said, they would work on gradual integration of the candidate states, which, he said, means that in a way each country will participate in the processes of the European Union while preparing to become a full-fledged member.

“The intention of Belgium is for every country to be able to attend the General Affairs Council to be held in April, while the Commission’s initiative is for the candidate states to join the Rule of Law Report, and play a role in all considerations over the future of Europe. This is our strategic vision, and this strategic vision needs to transform into a strategic agenda,” he stressed.

In the interview for MIA, Meurice, noted that the rule of law and the fight against corruption are at the top of the priorities of Belgium’s Presidency with the EU Council. For North Macedonia, as well as for the other countries, he said it is important to put in place the necessary instruments for the fight against corruption and not let people involved in organized crime or corruption to set the rules of the game

Ambassador Meurice is expected to present the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council in the Parliament of North Macedonia on February 9.

Mr. Ambassador, in your expose you said that North Macedonia and the Western Balkans are among the priorities of Belgium’s EU Presidency. Amid this complex geopolitical context, and if these countries stay outside the Union, will there be some security implications in the region?

You set the parameters of the question very well. Indeed, it is a strategic question – integration of the Western Balkans in the EU – so it is a question not whether we like it or not but that we need it for the greater good of the region and the greater good for the whole of Europe, because we don’t want a region in the middle of the continent to become a source of tensions or instability. It is a strategic question and that is why Belgium, as part of the responsibilities as Presidency, wants to make progress in the enlargement issue, including the Western Balkans.

How will you accomplish that?

The role of the rotating Presidency of the EU in questions of enlargement, for example, is to identify the political space when it exists in order to bring together all countries that need to decide on the issue, and find the necessary compromise or view in order to advance on that subject. It is a question that we need to discuss with all countries involved – from the region, from the rest of Europe – to see what is the common denominator on which we can work for every country to agree to advance together on the enlargement path.

You also said that fight against corruption is also among the priorities. North Macedonia has seen a lot of criticism in this area in the EC Progress Report. What are your recommendations in this field?

I would like to say two things on that. Fight against corruption is certainly an important topic in the aspect of EU accession and we are convinced that thanks to the rule of law and fight against corruption, you can bring to the citizens of the country the full benefits of being member of the EU. Secondly, corruption is not something particular to the Western Balkans or North Macedonia, this is something that exists in Belgium as well. It is just that you have to put in place the necessary instruments to fight it and not let organized crime or corrupt people set the rules of the game. We want the rule of law to remain on top of what we do and that is why it is important to fight corruption.

2024 is election year, in North Macedonia, the European Parliament and the United States. Having this in mind, will there be maybe any implications on the European integration of the Western Balkans?

Election year in Belgium as well. In June, we will also elect a new parliament and have a new government after that. It would be foolish to say that all these elections never impact what is going to happen afterwards, and it would also be abnormal that it doesn’t have any implications, because elections are an opportunity for the citizens to say what kind of policies they want, so it can have an impact in terms of enlargement. That being said, it does not change the fact that enlargement is a strategic goal of the EU, and in the case of Belgium, I have never heard anyone say they are against North Macedonia becoming a member of the EU. Whatever party comes to power in Belgium that would not change the way we look on this situation.

Neda Dimova Prokikj

Photo and video: Andrej Brankovikj