site.btaNorth Macedonia’s European Affairs Minister: EU Enlargement Must Not Become Hostage to Identity

European Union (EU) enlargement must not become a hostage to identity, said North Macedonia's Minister for European Affairs, Orhan Murtezani, at a briefing here on Thursday, held on the sidelines of a meeting of the European Economic and Social Committee. Enlargement was one of the key topics at the two-day meeting, which began on Wednesday and brought together representatives of countries seeking EU membership.

Murtezani stressed that enlargement must remain aligned with the Copenhagen criteria and that these should be applied clearly and fairly to all. "Sometimes we are reminded that principles must be defended as fiercely as borders," he added.

"We have come a long way in our reform efforts, believing that the EU is, above all, a union of values. We will continue to work on reforms and institutional development. We believe the EU is founded on justice, respect, and inclusion, and that it will act accordingly," the Minister said.

According to Murtezani, North Macedonia is ready to continue working on the enlargement process, which is not only a geopolitical endeavor but also a path toward democracy, dialogue, and human dignity. These values are independent of borders, history, or the language people speak, he noted.