Skopje, 18 December 2023 (MIA) - Geopolitical shifts in Europe have opened the door for enlargement, which is an opportunity that North Macedonia must take, because it will not last for long. The argument that there is no need to rush is wrong, unrealistic and very dangerous for North Macedonia. We know what waiting looks like, and 17 years of it did not bring anything better, therefore MPs have an obligation to make a decision for citizen's futures. The conclusion of the European Council is clear. North Macedonia has successfully completed the screening process and remains to fulfil its duty and adopt constitutional amendments.

This was concluded at the panel discussion "Geopolitical EU enlargement: New opportunities, old risks?" organized by the Skopje Office of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) and PolitikUm-Sustainable and Innovative Policies Institute, that was held on Monday.

Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said that in the title of the panel can be added that is not only a risk, but the same one, from the same people, which was also concluded at the EU-Western Balkans summit.

"I will give you a simple answer. The section on North Macedonia lasted very shortly. Until now, we have never been given a clearer conclusion from the European council. The one paragraph conclusion stated that North Macedonia has successfully completed the screening process and remains to complete its obligation and vote for constitutional amendments, and that the European Council will schedule a second intergovernmental conference to open all chapters," PM Kovachevski said.

If last year was a difficult year for making difficult decisions on negotiations and accepting the French proposal, Kovachevski added that, during the Summit to put in sporting terms, we had an "empty goal and a clean penalty, which we missed  "because of VMRO-DPMNE, Levica and the Democratic Union."

"Old risks, same risks, same players. We have to be honest. All that we hear now are just different arguments.  Whether or not the reform happened is a matter of opinion, a different argument. We have a conclusion of one paragraph. Clear and simple. Constitutional amendments and the chapters. All chapters will be open at once," Kovachevski stressed.

The one and a half year screening process, he added, illustrated that we are on par with European institutions and countries, and that we should not underestimate ourselves. We cannot keep looking for excuses, either we adopt reforms or make decisions.

PolitikUm President and Party of European Socialists (PES) Vice-President, Radmila Shekerinska, noted that EU enlargement is slowly becoming a geopolitical project, and that it has been concluded that geopolitical shifts in Europe will open the door for enlargement, which North Macedonia must use before the door closes.

"The argument that there is no need to rush, because what is needed will come anyway, is false, unrealistic and very dangerous for us," Shekerinska said.

From time to time, EU, she added, must attend the bilateral meetings with Bulgaria, because when North Macedonia negotiates with Bulgaria it is not only just between them, but also with the political power that comes from EU membership and our wish to become a member.

The event is held within the project "Revised process of EU enlargement: new geopolitical context, new opportunities, same risks." The goal of the event is to focus on certain issues taking into account recent developments, views of domestic and EU leaders and experts, as well as the results of brainstorming foresight consultations that took place throughout 2023 gathering progressive political voices, experts, opinion-makers, and journalists, say the organizers. The panel is moderated by Law University Professor Renata Deskoska. ssh/sk/

Photo: MIA