Skopje, 14 October 2023 (MIA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Bujar Osmani, participated in a debate organized by the Balkan Institute for Regional Cooperation (BIRC), held with the students of the State University of Tetovo, on the topic of “Are we missing the EU train?”, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release Saturday.

According to the MFA, Osmani said he is optimistic that the constitutional amendments will be adopted by the end of the year and that the country will remain on the path of accelerated EU integration, noting that the process should be based on meritocracy, but with sufficient understanding of the current geopolitical moment.

“You become an EU member once you fulfill the conditions, but in certain geopolitical moments, if you have fulfilled the conditions, but if the geopolitical moment isn’t right, then the door remains closed. The iron gate of the EU is opening now because of the Russian aggression on Ukraine. The countries which are ready will enter,” stressed Osmani in his address.

The Foreign Minister also noted that each country of the region has its own challenges on the path to EU membership, with the constitutional amendments being North Macedonia’s task, undertaken with the EU negotiating framework.

“Osmani said the constitutional amendments are essential for the continuation of the EU accession process, as well as when it comes to avoiding the involvement of issues related to identity or history in the process. He concluded that interrupting the country’s Euro-integrations would be a historic mistake which we mustn’t allow at this moment,” said the MFA in the press release.