North of Macedonia’ve done all the homework for the opening of accession negotiations with the EU, says its President Stevo Pendarovski in a DW Interview. A delay would have serious consequences for the whole Region.
Deutsche Welle: What are the reasons for it, in spite of the dissolved name dispute with Greece, which had not yet been as the only obstacle on the way to the EU, called, still, it is not clear when the EU North of Macedonia’s accession negotiations to offer?
Stevo Pendarovski: I would like to remind you of a political decision of Germany before not too long time. You know that Germany was the locomotive of the main drive, so that Croatia becomes a member of the EU. As Croatia became a member, decided by the Bundestag, that he will vote for every other country before it gets a date for the opening of accession negotiations. It is important to know that in this Moment none of the leading EU-politicians and the major political parties in Europe, however, is that North of Macedonia gets a date.
I expect soon an official Meeting with [the Federal] President, Steinmeier in Berlin, where, I believe, the strategic Alliance between Northern Macedonia and Germany will be confirmed. It is very important that we have fulfilled the necessary prerequisites. We are aware that the decision for opening of accession depends on the negotiations thereof, whether or not a country has carried out the necessary reforms.
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In this sense, the EU progress report in respect of the North of Macedonia is very clear. He shows that our institutions have done their tasks. I repeat only one sentence of this report: “North Macedonia is a shining example in the Region…”. A few years ago we had reports in progress is the Phrase that today is still part of the political Narrative, if it were a “captured state”.
The second component is the political will. And since I would like to repeat again that none of the serious political Player in the EU, says that the North of Macedonia will get a date for the opening of accession negotiations. Of course, there are always players who have to take on their domestic political circumstances into account. However, in this case, we see a clear policy announcements, which indicate a positive outcome.
The biggest challenge in the whole process, however, is the Waiting. The citizens of our country want to right an intensification of the economic growth, a perspective for the young people so that they can use their Potential in their own country, to emigrate, rather than because there is in the land of no prospects for you. And of course, all the effective institutions of the rule of law, transparent and accessible to everyone require. In my opinion, it is clear that we will soon have a date; however, the question is, whether or not in the polarized political atmosphere, too, it is recognized that, for our part, have done the homework, and that a possible Move is due to processes beyond our influence.
The French President, it is clear that the Union’s “deepening” should be, and then also extended. What is the point of the tenth recommendation for the North of Macedonia, if there is still no date for the start of the negotiations?
I agree with the view of a number of politicians and observers that the EU’s credibility is in question, as regards the honest implementation of the principle of “open doors to the countries of the Western Balkans”, and think that a possible postponement of the accession to the North of Macedonia will devalue in the process of integration, in addition to this approach.
Let’s be honest: There is no rational explanation for the fact that we get no date. And finally, The opening of the accession negotiations does not mean that we have been included in the EU. With the opening of the Chapter, we get as a country the opportunity to set a solid Basis for the creation of institutions which allow us that the state is fully operational in the democratic as well as in the economic sense.
Northern Macedonia instead of Macedonia: “The only positive story in the Region in the last two years.”
It is for the North of Macedonia, better, alone, to move forward or in a package with Albania?
We have excellent relations with all our neighbors. Albania is our neighbor and NATO member and has supported us always on the path of NATO membership. From today’s perspective, in 2008, appears to us to be far away, as we had not managed to get an invitation to NATO, although we were part of the same Adriatic-group. And that was the beginning of the year, in which the “captured state” is spoken.
It would be great to go all the way to the EU together with our friends from Albania. But it would have been fair to Albania and its citizens, if someone ten years ago would have demanded of them, not to join NATO, because we had a Problem with Greece? We remain partners, we have the same goals in sight. Finally, Albania has received a clear recommendation that the European Council takes a positive decision, in order to get a date for the opening of the negotiations. And this also should happen, for you and for us.
Where not to be found an additional Motivation for the reform process, if the process of the accession negotiations with the EU starts now?
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North of Macedonia wants to join the EU
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North of Macedonia: a New EU candidate country
This is a difficult question, but legitimate. The fact is that things are more complicated, formerly in the political sense. In my opinion, we were frittering away in this case, the current dynamics, and that was the only positive story in the Region in the last two years. On 7. July to take place in Greece elections, from which, perhaps, the current Greek Opposition as the winner will emerge. Although Nea Demokratia and its leading people have said that they will respect the Prespa agreement, it will give a different perception of the processes that were initiated by a different political set, and it is precisely the nuances in foreign policy can often make the difference.
The answer to your question is that we need to find that extra Motivation in ourselves. We have sent the EU a clear Signal with what has been achieved in the last two years. We wanted to show that the policy can be in our Region and to, as it was the practice in the past, with many disputes and conflicts. Regardless of who ruled, the challenges will be the same. There is no other Option, we will make as a state continue to have confidence in within our borders, and together with the EU, and we will have to work on the accession to the EU.
The interview was conducted by Katerina Blazevska
Stevo Pendarovski (56) is a Macedonian political scientist and politician of the social democratic League of Macedonia. Since may of 2019, he is the President of Northern Macedonia.