Skopje, 26 November 2025 (MIA) - The Ambassadors of the Slovak Republic and the Netherlands, Iveta Hricová and Özlem Canel, addressed Wednesday a plenary conference of the National Convention on the European Union in North Macedonia (NCEU-MK) in Parliament, stressing that reforms are key for European integration, and that the rule of law is a crucial step of the EU accession process.

Slovak Ambassador Hricová said that Slovakia, alongside other EU member states, firmly backs the country, noting that in addition to the firm support and the technical and financial assistance, the country is also sharing its experience with the EU accession process.

“Your country has on several occasions demonstrated that it is resilient and capable of looking for joint solutions, even in challenging times, and that’s why the National Convention is of immense importance, it provides space for an inclusive and expert discussion of the reforms that are key for European integration. We know very well how difficult it is to strengthen the institutions, to build trust, and to implement reforms that will have a lasting effect. We also know very well that success is possible only when reforms enjoy broad support from the citizens and when they can clearly see their value,” Hricová said.

The Slovak Ambassador said the member states are closely monitoring the country’s progress in many areas, highlighting the rule of law, independent institutions, and constitutional issues related to the accession process as key areas not only because they are formal requests, but because they are the backbone of every stable democracy. They, Hricová added, create trust, attract investments, and provide confidence to the citizens that the country works for their benefit.

“I am aware that the decisions ahead of you are political and extremely sensitive and very complicated and very difficult to communicate with the citizens. However, they also represent an opportunity. Every step that increases transparency and improves governance is a step toward a safer and more European future for your country. I see today’s session as an opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision that your country belongs in the European family. The path toward these goals lies in cooperation between the government, experts, and civil society. And only through this cooperation can reforms be permanent,” the Ambassador said.

Hricová stressed that Slovakia is ready and will continue to continuously back the country, share expert knowledge, and create a close partnership.

“We believe in the potential of your country and the commitment of your institutions and in the aspirations of the citizens who want a stable and democratic country in the future,” concluded the Slovak Ambassador.

The Dutch Ambassador to North Macedonia, Özlem Canel, noted that such platforms for dialogue propose ways to overcome known challenges and move the region forward to the EU.  

According to Ambassador Canel, this year’s reports provide a good assessment of where the countries have made progress and where there was a lack of progress. She added that the EU member states present in the region, including the Netherlands, will commit significant efforts and resources to back the reforms.

“This is a priority for my country, to see a stable and prosperous Western Balkans within the EU. And therefore my main message is, let’s not waste precious time. The key challenge for North Macedonia is to unlock the formal start of negotiations. We share the European Commission’s view that these constitutional amendments need to be adopted and implemented, and especially for Macedonia and the region it is important to complete the implementation of the necessary reforms, with the specific areas being the rule of law, fight against corruption and organized crime, but also public administration reforms,” Canel said. 

Ambassador Canel stressed that this has been the Netherlands’ consistent position from the very beginning and that the rule of law is a key issue in the EU accession process.

“Another important challenge in the coming period is to accelerate economic growth and get the region closer to the EU standard. All countries in the region face gaps in the labor market, greater youth migration, additional the countries are very dependent on energy imports and have gaps in their infrastructure... These challenges cannot be solved immediately, but it is important to stress that we shouldn’t waste any more time,” the Dutch Ambassador said.

The national coordinator of NCEU-MK and President of the European Movement in North Macedonia, Mileva Gjurovska, said the country once again faces a significant and sensitive step in the European process.

“Soberly and responsibly, we must admit that the EU has not always succeeded in providing predictability and protection of the process. But at the same time, we must see the whole picture. The EU remains our largest economic partner, our most important reform ally, a guarantor of stability and security, with special support for the development of the region. The citizens have the right to expect Europe to be more consistent in its messages, and the process – protected from new blockades due to bilateral disputes. However, we must also admit that part of what pressures and discourages us is something we feed ourselves, through our internal weaknesses, among which: the rule of law – very important for improving trust in institutions – and the lack of a serious approach to sanctioning high-level corruption,” Gjurovska said.

According to Gjurovska, the message from the Convention’s discussion is that more than ever before, the country needs dialogue – transparent, inclusive, and fair – which would strengthen the relationship between the institutions and the citizens. “A dialogue that overcomes the isolation that gives birth to parallel truths and allows us to build a joint picture of the issues, regardless of our political affiliation,” she said.

Photo: MIA