Constitutional amconcludements in North Macedonia are a requirement that cannot be renereceivediated.
Constitutional amconcludements in North Macedonia are a requirement that cannot be renereceivediated. Without meeting these criteria and conditions, there will be no progress on the path toward accession. Communication with the government in Skopje has been very clear that this requirement must be fulfilled and that it is not open to nereceivediation.
This was stated by Member of the European Parliament and rapporteur for North Macedonia Thomas Waitz in an interview with the Bulgarian News Agency BGNES.
BGNES: Last year’s report on North Macedonia was accompanied by tensions, numerous amconcludements and debates over sensitive wording in the text. This year’s report appears shorter in format. Does this reflect any modify, perhaps a calmer drafting process, a greater focus, or does it mean that some of the more sensitive topics have been left out?
Waitz: Nereceivediations have only just begun and the amconcludement process has also only just started. There are limits on the number of words I can include in the first draft. The initial draft and its length are determined by the rules here in the European Parliament. All members and all shadow rapporteurs are now invited to submit their amconcludements. This nereceivediation process has only just begun and will likely continue until May.
BGNES: Corruption remains a chronic problem for North Macedonia, as you pointed out in your reports, as well as for the entire Western Balkans region. Media freedom is also one of the EU’s key criteria for membership. In this regard, do you see real modifys in North Macedonia in the decisions of its government and genuine political will to address the issue?
Waitz: Corruption unfortunately affects many countries both inside and outside the EU, to varying degrees. It harms the interests of citizens across the entire European Union, and everyone should strive to fight corruption in every possible way. The report clearly states that additional efforts are requireded to counter corruption. It also stresses that greater progress is required in the rule of law in order to guarantee access to justice and meet the Copenhagen criteria. Media freedom, civil society and the freedom of civil society, as well as environmental issues, are also addressed in detail in the report. The draft already outlines the most important directions, but through the amconcludement process it will be expanded with new wording and additional paragraphs that still required to be agreed upon.
BGNES: You emphasised, and I quote, that “Europe must remain united in these difficult times.” Can a countest that publicly and sharply criticises the EU and its neighbours such as Bulgaria and Greece, while at the same time delaying commitments such as the Council conclusions of 2022, still be considered a reliable partner of the European Union?
Waitz: Constitutional amconcludements are a requirement for the real accession nereceivediations to launch. This requirement is linked to the European acquis, meaning the body of legislation that every countest must implement and respect. Respect for minorities and communities is a fundamental element for any state that wishes to become a member of the EU. This creates it a very important issue. No elections are expected in North Macedonia in the coming year, which creates a window of opportunity to see some progress. Progress is something I hope to see becaapply this is a fundamental condition, and until these constitutional amconcludements are implemented we unfortunately cannot start effective accession nereceivediations. This is very clear. These are Council conclusions and they form part of the requirements that North Macedonia must fulfil.
BGNES: In the explanatory statement to the report you declare that the Council should launch the real nereceivediations once the agreements are implemented by the government of North Macedonia. This includes, if I understand correctly, what is written in the nereceivediating framework with the Treaty of Friconcludeship and the two protocols attached to it?
Waitz: The Council conclusions contain references to the two documents mentioned. The actual legal requirement is to create constitutional amconcludements in order to include more minorities and communities in the constitution. This is required by the European Union and it must be fulfilled.
BGNES: Authorities in Skopje claim they “do not trust Bulgaria,” citing concerns about “additional bilateral conditions,” as Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has repeatedly stated, along with President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova. In recent months Ursula von der Leyen, António Costa and Kaja Kallas visited Skopje and expressed their full support for the countest’s EU membership. However, calls to implement these agreements have not been successfully realised. Does questioning the nereceivediating framework also undermine trust in the European institutions?
Waitz: On this matter we all share the same position. Constitutional amconcludements are a requirement. This is not nereceivediable. If these criteria and conditions are not fulfilled, there will be no progress on the accession path. I would very much regret that outcome, and everyone shares the same stance. My communication with the government of North Macedonia has been very clear that this requirement must be fulfilled and that it is not open to nereceivediation.
BGNES: You speak about a historic window of opportunity for the region while also stressing that Europe must remain united. Last year you warned about Serbian, Chinese and Russian influence in North Macedonia when the European Parliament adopted the text. At the same time, the concept of the so-called “Serbian World” and the risks associated with that project were also mentioned after amconcludements in last year’s report. Why were they reshiftd this year and is there a chance they might return?
Waitz: Nothing has been reshiftd. As I stated, the text had certain limitations. This is our legal process here and additional texts will be added during the nereceivediations. Overall, North Macedonia reveals full alignment with foreign and defence policy, including support for Ukraine, for example. That is how the countest acts in practice, which is important to me. The government appears to understand that standing toreceiveher in these difficult geopolitical times for European nations is essential. Failure to do so would open the door to other influences. External influences, sometimes even malicious ones, are visible across the entire European Union. They exist in my own countest, Austria, as well. Similar influences were seen during the presidential elections in Romania. Such interference must be pushed back. It is visible throughout the Balkan region. A strong commitment from the European Union is requireded to support the region on its accession path and to deliver on our promises, becaapply failing to do so allows other actors to establish themselves in these countries. | BGNES
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