Brussels, 12 December 2023 (MIA) - North Macedonia will continue the negotiating process with the European Union once the constitutional amendments are adopted, as stipulated in the Negotiating Framework and in line with the EU Council conclusions of July 2022, read the conclusions adopted at the General Affairs Council (GAC) on Tuesday, learns MIA's correspondent from Brussels.

European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi told a press conference after the GAC session that the conclusions are fundamental to the progress of the enlargement policy and they reaffirm the progress of 10 membership candidates and send a clear message over the commitment to EU enlargement with countries of the Western Balkans, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.

"This is a year of momentum in the EU enlargement policy and I am pleased that we have not only managed to provide proposals to the Council but also made decisions," said Commissioner Varhelyi while adding that the final decision on the enlargement process would be taken at the EU Summit on Thursday and Friday.

"We will see what strategic decision Council leaders take and hope they will reaffirm the clear membership perspective of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, based on the Commission's recommendations," added Varhelyi.

He said the conclusions will represent the basis for discussion at tomorrow's EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brussels, since they do not relate only to Union enlargement but reflect the new proposal for acceleration of the accession process - the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

"I hope the Summit will not only confirm the benefit of this proposal but also lead to instant decisions by member-states and partners from the Western Balkans", noted Varhelyi.

Pascual Ignacio Navarro Ríos, Spanish State Secretary for the European Union, said the GAC adopted the conclusions on enlargement after a long discussion, and they reflect the support to the process "that is important for the future of Europe".

Photo: EBS