Skopje, 13 March 2023 (MIA) – No country loses its identity on the way to the European Union. I think this country can be confident in terms of its identity, its culture and its language, EU Ambassador David Geer said on Monday.

In an interview with Kanal 5 TV, he said that he understands the frustration that people feel that is taking so long to open accession negotiations, but emphasizes that the EU and North Macedonia have a common benefit from the country's membership in the Union.

“In terms of guarantees as you know in the accession process, there are many moments in the accession process when there is a need for decisions to be taken by unanimity. What’s important that there is responsibility on our side to ensure that when these decisions come that they are made on the basis of the reforms that the country is putting in place on the EU-related reforms and not on other issues. This was very much the sense of what both President Von der Leyen and President Michel conveyed when they visited Skopje last July,” Geer said.

According to Geer, the best guarantee for moving forward is to implement these reforms, because, as he added, it is the fastest way to come into the European Union.

“There needs to be tremendous efforts led by the Government but also involving the different institutions with the support of civil society and others to really push forward reform,” Geer said.

In regard to the constitutional changes, Geer said that it’s important this debate is conducted in a responsible way and all stakeholders think long and hard.

Photo: MIA Archive