Skopje, 13 June 2024 (MIA) - We have a common responsibility to contribute to the preservation of peace in Europe by building a democratic, secure and prosperous continent, said President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova in her address at the Summit of heads of state and government of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), held in Skopje on Thursday.

Siljanovska Davkova said SEECP has helped participants in closing some open issues over the past 28 years, while building mutual trust and cooperating so that Southeast Europe gets a common flag - the EU flag, the President's Office said in a press release.

According to her, these efforts have yielded concrete results - some have joined as full-fledged members, others have started accession negotiations, are candidates or have applied for membership.

"However, despite the undisputable achievements, we have witnessed a slowdown in regional cooperation due to a stagnating European integration, lack of infrastructure and energy networking, demographic aging and mass emigration of young people. All of this has culminated with the Russian aggression against Ukraine, which represents a threat to peace and stability but also to human, energy and food security," said Siljanovska Davkova.

She added that trust is built by giving up on double standards and respecting law and justice, upon the principles of international law, including through lack of interference in countries' domestic affairs.

"In the context of European integration, Process participants must insist on the Copenhagen criteria as the only requirement for EU membership. Veto goes against the EU logic and the prosperity of the entire region. Instead of blocking each other, we must behave in a Scandinavian manner by cooperating and supporting each other," noted Siljanovska Davkova.

Regarding European reforms, the President said the region needs consistent EU logic and not bare EU rhetoric.

"In other words, we need democratic political culture, rule of law and a functional legal state, human rights and fundamental freedoms, professional administration and a competitive economy. The best and most efficient way to implement these European benefits are negotiations and membership," said Siljanovska Davkova.

A more efficient regional cooperation, she added, requires continued regional synergy among processes such as the Berlin Process, the Regional Cooperation Council and the Brdo Brijuni Process.

"Regardless of the post-election constellation in the European Union, I expect enlargement to remain on the agenda of the future European Commission. This is important because enlargement is a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity," underlined President Siljanovska Davkova.

SEECP was founded in 1996 by the declaration adopted at a meeting of foreign ministers of countries of South-Eastern Europe. As the only regional cooperation forum that includes all 13 participants in Southeast Europe, SEECP is the most comprehensive format in the region.

Photo: President's Office