Strasbourg, 27 November 2024 (MIA) - There are indications that this Government has the readiness to move forward in the Euro-integrations if there are guarantees that Bulgaria won’t make new demands and continue to block the process, Greens MEP Thomas Waitz, who is the European Parliament’s new rapporteur on North Macedonia, told Macedonian journalists on Wednesday, according to MIA’s reporter in Strasbourg.

“The amendments to the Constitution should be ensured, but also we should ensure that there are no additional demands, that this will be binding and this is the feeling within the European Union. It will be difficult for the Government to explain the move to the citizens if there are no guarantees. We need to work on securing guarantees and ensuring there won’t be new demands,” Austrian MEP Waitz said.

Asked about the Government’s proposal for constitutional amendments with delayed effect, Waitz said he doubts that it would be accepted.

“The Government’s request for clarity regarding the demands is legitimate, but I don’t believe the request for constitutional amendments with delayed effect will pass,” Waitz said.

The MEP stressed that guarantees should be sought to ensure there are no other future blockades. He said he currently doesn’t know the right solution, but that in five to six months he would be able to provide a more specific solution.

According to Waitz, the country has become a victim of a bilateral issue with Bulgaria. He noted that membership negotiations aren’t easy but stressed that the new geopolitical circumstances after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have shown that the Western Balkans is at the heart of Europe.

Regarding the country’s progress in terms of reforms, Waitz said North Macedonia is making better progress than the rest of the Western Balkan countries, but that it lacks implementation of the legislation.

“North Macedonia is implementing reforms earlier than the rest of the countries in the region, you are making historic progress that you can build on. But if, for example, you wait seven years to launch some judicial process, this isn’t a reform of the judiciary. There is still a lot of work to be done. North Macedonia is on a good path, but the job isn’t over,” Waitz said, adding that reforms are also important for the citizens.

Asked about the new European Commission, Waitz said Marta Kos is an excellent choice for the post of enlargement commissioner, and she will be committed to the region’s EU membership.

“We gave Ukraine candidate status out of geostrategic reasons. But if we are being realistic about which countries can join in the next years, it’s the Western Balkan countries, including North Macedonia. You can count on Marta Kos’ engagement,” he said.

Commenting on regional cooperation and the Open Balkan initiative, the MEP said all forms of cooperation are good, and the region can be stronger if it is united but expressed doubts about Open Balkan.

“In principle, all forms of cooperation are good, but I have suspicions that Open Balkan aims to strengthen Serbia’s influence in the region. Politically this is legitimate, but to me it seems like an alternative process to EU accession and the Berlin Process,” Waitz said.

German MEP Michael Gahler, who is a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, at a meeting with Macedonian journalists, said there are initiatives by EU members to unblock the process. He said his talks with Bulgarian MEPs have left him with the impression that they are oriented towards finding a solution, and noted that blocking the process isn’t in Bulgaria’s interest either. 

Photo: MIA