Skopje, 11 September 2023 (MIA) - Over the past three years, we have had a serious disbalance between the traditional EU accession criteria and the settlement of bilateral disputes, because the Bulgaria row has unfortunately blanketed the traditional accession agenda, said President Stevo Pendarovski on Monday.

President Pendarovski held a joint press conference with Slovenian and Croatian counterpoarts, Nataša Pirc Musar and Zoran Milanovic respectively, after the leaders meeting within the Brdo-Brijuni Process in Skopje.

Pendarovski said there has been a rather big disbalance in this regard when it comes to North Macedonia.

"We are clear with the fact that the so-called regional clause or goodneighborly relations must be met. In regard to our path until now, it is clear there has been a rather large disbalance between the traditional EU accession criteria and bilateral relations with at least two of our neighbors, while over the past three years the bilateral problem with Bulgaria has blanketed the entire traditional accession agenda. We hope this will change soon because if we insist on solving purely bilateral disputes first, especially if they are based on history and emotions, then no country of the Western Balkans will ever join the EU," said Pendarovski.

Croatian President Milanovic highlighted the importance of criteria and dispute settlement, adding they are processes developing in parallel.

"There are open issues, especially between Serbia and Kosovo. These are processes developing in parallel and I believe this type of dialogue is beneficial and the worst thing is when phone lines die down, representing the death of dialogue, communication, mutual understanding. One of the most important moments in the recent past is related to identity and self-respect of countries in this area, namely when Ukraine received a candidate status before Bosnia and Herzegovina, something that was unimaginable but it happened," said Milanovic.

Slovenian President Pirc Musar said it is unequivocal that settlement of bilateral issues is in the interest of EU, Union accession, but also in the interest of countries aspiring to join.

Pirc Musar added she is not a proponent of EU accession delays because of bilateral problems.

Photo: MIA