Skopje, 16 February 2023 (MIA) - Will we be in the group of countries that will join the EU at the next opening of the door or will we remain in the group of problematic countries that who knows when they will join, if ever, that is our domestic decision, Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj told Telma TV’s Win-Win show late Thursday.

“For the first time, the card for blocking is neither in Greece, nor in Sofia, nor in Athens, nor in Paris, nor in The Hague, nor in Brussels. It is for the first time in Skopje and it is our responsibility of all the parties, especially VMRO-DPMNE because at the moment they are against how we will decide and whether we will decide. This does not mean that we should approve and accept everything Bulgaria has to offer. No, we need to take care of our interests, our dignity, and we showed on February 4 that we know how to do that,” Marichikj said.

He said that we are in a situation where the card for blockade, as he said, is in our hands for the first time. He stated that this year is the last of the European Commission's mandate. Elections for the European Parliament will be held in May next year, Marichikj said, adding that the establishment of the new European institutions for the next five-year mandate will take six months. He also referred to the fact that elections will be held in the USA at the end of next year, as well as in our country.

“We can decide that we will take the train together with Albania and enter the group of four countries, because now that four plus two grouping is made. Four countries that are negotiating with the EU: Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia, and two that are considered difficult cases that will wait, namely Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Marichikj added.

Deputy PM Marichikj said that our task is to save the country’s European future, to provide better conditions in times of crisis and to ensure that the European future of the country does not fail.