site.btaFM Osmani Calls for Non-Partisan Accord on Skopje's EU Integration

The Foreign Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, called for a non-partisan accord on Skopje's EU integration. He was speaking Wednesday at a news conference after a meeting with Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly in Skopje.

He said that the Bled Strategic Forum will go down in history because it will provide a framework for EU enlargement and will give Skopje an idea to work for. He does not see a conflict between the words of European Council President Charles Michel that 2030 is a realistic goal for EU enlargement towards the Western Balkans, and those of French President Emanuel Macron who told the French Ambassadors in Paris that it is a risk to think that the EU can enlarge without reforms and that it should probably evolve to a multi-speed union to integrate Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkan countries.

He said that the framework that Charles Michel outlined does not mean that Skopje will join the EU in 2030 even if it is not ready, and that Macron spoke of several speeds meaning that each country will become a member based on their preparedness - not that all countries will become members in 2030, or that there will be privileged and non-privileged countries. He said that Skopje calls for more integration before the accession and for becoming a part of the EU policy in the fields where the applicable negotiating chapters are closed. He added that it would mean access to the EU funding and to the EU market, and being practically members without being able to vote. Osmani said that this way the countries will rather have annual targets than a single long-term goal which often causes frustration and disappointment, and allows third countries to take advantage of these sentiments.

He was adamant that the time has come for a non-partisan accord on his country's EU integration.

Foreign Minister Joly said her country believes that North Macedonia belongs with the EU and vowed support for Skopje. 

Later in the day she is also to meet with Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski and Defence Minister Slavjanka Petrovska.