Skopje, 30 July 2021 (MIA) – There’s no alternative to membership in the European Union, but the EU, unfortunately holds the Republic of North Macedonia as a candidate country for almost 17 years, without providing the deserved next step on the country’s path to integration. In such circumstances, this is also acknowledged by 26 member states that speak openly and loudly about the country’s merit to get the first intergovernmental conference, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told Friday’s Q&A session in Parliament. Zaev noted that in the official EU report, the processes that have been a requirement for North Macedonia to get a date for start of negotiations have been one hundred percent confirmed. “The decision was made, but the first intergovernmental conference is not scheduled, because only one EU member doesn’t approve start of negotiations,” he added. The Prime Minister stressed that the country has never been more affirmed on the path to EU as it is in recent years. “Our country is an example of coexistence and a counter-argument to all negative theses about ethnic territories and borders in the Balkans and beyond on the European continent. Our country is an example that through dialogue and diplomacy even most difficult issues can be resolved, which could have been resolved much earlier if we have really all made effort for EU and NATO membership. This Government that I lead has that recognition from the entire democratic world, and you must and should recognize it because it is visible,” Zaev pointed out. Regarding whether the ‘Open Balkan’ initiative is an alternative to the EU, Zaev underlined that there’s no alternative to EU membership and there shouldn’t be one. “While we wait the EU to decide, there’s no dilemma that we work and we build friendship, to remove all administrative obstacles and barriers, all with the ultimate goal of bringing greater prosperity to our people, our economy, trade, exports, because that brings greater GDP, economic standard, jobs, etc.,” the PM explained. He added that the ‘Open Balkan’ initiative provides for, in case of natural disasters, three times more capacities for response when citizens need help, i.e. the country now also has the Serbian and the Albanian forces at disposal. “We signed an agreement on recognizing the work permits so that we can work freely wherever we decide, we signed agreements on full freedom of movement of goods and passengers at our border crossings,” said Zaev. In addition, he noted that four years ago North Macedonia was in a quarrel with Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo and Serbia, which brought disappointment, but now, he added, there’s cooperation in the region, and the leaders sit together and talk in the same spirit about benefits for the people.