Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov is taking part Monday in the 23rd Symi international symposium taking place in Greece in cooperation with the Region of Attica and co-organized with the Municipality of Athens, after being invited by the Andreas Papandreou Foundation.
Speaking at a panel on “What’s Europe’s future without the Balkans”, Dimitrov referred to current challenges North Macedonia is facing in the accession process and the impact on the enlargement policy and the EU’s credibility, the Secretariat for European Affairs said Monday.
The drastic case of North Macedonia, he said, has raised serious concerns about the influence and credibility of the EU in the region.
“We’d climbed a mountain by settling the issue with Greece with the Prespa Agreement. However, the agreement was possible only because Greece accepted our right to self-determination. The issue of who we are and what language we speak is ours and it’s not only non-European but it is also inappropriate someone else to be raising it in the 21st century,” Dimitrov stated.
The Deputy PM noted that a member state has been setting conditions to a country aspiring to join the block. “This is what is happening. The conditions have to be in line with the European values, because, call me an idealist, but since being a student to me Europe is not only an economic giant, but a union of ideals and values. Our progress should be merited through these values,” Dimitrov told the panel.
Regarding the attempts made to remove the hurdles for holding the first intergovernmental conference between North Macedonia and the EU, he said the issue is as relevant for the future of his country as for the future of Europe as well.
“The lifting of the blockade by Bulgaria is an issue that far exceeds Skopje-Sofia relations. The EU presidency, managed by Slovenia in the next six months, is making serious efforts to find a solution, because the stake is high for the EU, too,” Deputy PM Dimitrov said.
The veto policy, according to him, creates antagonism. “Latest public opinion polls show that our citizens view Bulgaria as the biggest threat. I hope that the we will come to an understanding for a joint victory with the future Bulgarian government, for us and for them, for the region and for entire Europe,” Dimitrov said stressing that North Macedonia remains committed to reform implementation to apply European standards at home.
The international symposium, which brings together international politicians, diplomats, scholars, businesspeople and activists, focused on cooperation in view of global post-pandemic challenges in order to stimulate ideas for creating national and international strategies and policies. In addition to Deputy PM Dimitrov, Defence Minister Radmila Shekerinska also takes part alongside Kosovo PM Albin Kurti.
