Skopje, 19 July 2022 (MIA) — Today is an important moment for everyone and we don't want to waste any more time – we are launching the screening of the EU acquis, said Olivér Várhelyi, EU Enlargement Commissioner at the Brussels meeting that started North Macedonia's and Albania's EU screening process. Commissioner Várhelyi said this was the first step in the process of the accession negotiations and it was based on the work the two countries had done over the past years to prepare. He added that the European Commission would continue to do all they can to speed up the pace of the accession negotiations. Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj, speaking in Macedonian, thanked the Enlargement Commissioner on his support. “The journey we are starting together today will not be easy, but we know that we will not be alone on that road. We count on the European Commission to give us additional help through European funds. This is a moment we have been waiting for for two decades, 21 years after signing the Association and Stabilization Agreement and 17 years after receiving our candidate status, we are deservedly here today,” Marichikj said. He said the new methodology was expected to give a new impetus to the accession negotiations. “I am convinced that based on the lessons learned so far, we will be able to prepare better for the screening,” he added. Marichikj also announced that the negotiation strategy adopted in 2018 would be finalized and made operational in the coming weeks and Macedonian language translation and public relations capacities would be strengthened. “Our commitment to becoming a full member of the EU has never been in doubt and I am convinced that it will get even stronger throughout the screening,” he said. “I hope the EU will also be ready to welcome us. We are starting a process that requires the involvement of our entire society. An important and not very easy process, but one that will end in EU membership, our dream,” North Macedonia’s Europe minister pointed out. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani said it was a historic day the country had been waiting for a long time, working hard to make it happen through several governments. “The road here was not easy at all, but we will not go back to the past,” Osmani said. “We are looking ahead toward the future and the duties we need to fulfill. It will be up to us to mobilize our resources to get as quickly as possible to the European family, where we belong civilizationally. Your support and valuable guidance will be even more needed from now on. I assure you that our team is ready to fulfill all the chapters,” Osmani said. He told Macedonian citizens the government would not let them down and would respond to their requests and concerns on a daily basis. He added that there were no compromises being made regarding national, ethnic and human dignity. “Bilateral issues that are not Copenhagen criteria will not be part of the negotiating framework,” the foreign minister said, noting that the country would remain consistent with the implementation of the Prespa Agreement with Greece and the Friendship Treaty with Bulgaria. He added that he expected the other parties to do the same. mr/