Last year started well, a new methodology is in place that enabled the unconditional green light, but it ended on a bad note, and I believe this outcome is a loss for us, the region loses because the hope that the European perspective is real fades away, the EU lost because its influence lessens in parallel with the credibility, but Bulgaria has also lost because there was a big opportunity that we must try to bring it back and build a true and close partnership and friendship, said Deputy PM for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov on Wednesday.
Deputy PM Dimitrov addressed conference “Stabilization and Association Agreement MK-EU – 20 Years and Running”, organized by think-tank European Policy Institute-Skopje, saying North Macedonia’s legislation alignment is at the level of the countries that are currently negotiating, even better in some chapters, noting that the progress has been acknowledged and challenges must result in success, since there is no other alternative to Europeanization of the Macedonian society.
“The Stabilization and Association Agreement continues to be the only legal framework that regulates our relations with the EU, and what is maybe even more important, it protects our interests, especially the national economy, including services. That is why we have no other alternative. We must continue to actively meet our obligations arising from the Agreement, bringing European values at home. In this process, we are committed to being inclusive and transparent, utilizing all capacities, not only of institutions, but also of the civil society, the academic community, chambers of commerce and unions, because we are all concerned not only by the benefits but also by the challenges of the accession process,” said Dimitrov.
He added that the 20-year jubilee brings mixed feelings, because on one side, this legal framework has helped the country a lot, but on the other, it is a reminder of the lost time, generations and opportunities.
“We were the first to grab this opportunity but have still not launched the accession negotiations. Croatia, which signed the SAA after we did, marks 8 years as EU member this year. That is why it is understandable that we feel the frustrations of being in EU’s waiting room for 16 years. But despite the temptation to fall into the trap of feeling like a victim that had been treated unfairly, I prefer that we see what can be done on the path that has no alternative, the European path. I believe that the time lost but also our progress due of our leadership in solving bilateral issues is a test of EU’s commitment and how much the Balkans can believe the words coming from Brussels and the capitals of member-states,” noted Dimitrov.
