Opening EU membership talks would be a major political and psychological moment for North Macedonia’s citizens, who have been waiting 17 years for this while the country did everything it needed to do — changed its name, made major reforms, and showed it is pro-European — so it can start negotiations and open a new European chapter, according to Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman at a press conference in Skopje held with his Macedonian counterpart Bujar Osmani, transmits news agency MIA.
Minister Grlic Radman stressed that the beginning of North Macedonia’s accession negotiations with the EU was not only in the country’s interest but also in the interest of the EU itself, and equally of Croatia, especially given the broader context of current events.
“It is of utmost importance to put this issue back on the agenda of the Council of the EU,” Grlic Radman said.
“Technically, anything is possible. [The EU summit] is next week. We hope that an intergovernmental conference will be scheduled, bearing in mind the French presidency and leading EU countries’ influence,” he added. He said North Macedonia was the best example of great progress in the Western Balkans.
“We are making great efforts to highlight the necessity and importance of accession negotiations with North Macedonia. There is nothing else I can say, because I have the same information as Minister Osmani,” the Croatian foreign minister said. He also said the EU should have a stronger presence in the Western Balkan countries.
During all EU foreign ministerial meetings, he said, he had stressed that a stronger EU presence in the region was essential for its geopolitical security and prosperity.
“The countries of the Western Balkans are surrounded by EU and NATO members,” he noted. “North Macedonia is a NATO member, as well. This is why, when we talk about security, we are also talking about preventing third countries from spreading their influence.”
“We strongly condemn the Russian aggression against a sovereign country, which is unprecedented in the 21st century. The world order has been upended,” Grlic Radman added. Commenting on the situation in the Western Balkans, he said it was in the EU’s strategic interest to strengthen the region’s resilience, especially in light of the current geopolitical relations.
“Croatia and North Macedonia, as NATO and Adriatic Charter members, are important guarantors of stability in the region of Southeast Europe,” he said, adding there were opportunities to further strengthen NATO cooperation. In addition, Grlic Radman welcomed the country’s efforts to promote the rights of the Croatian community in North Macedonia. He also welcomed the interest of companies from both countries to operate in the markets in both Croatia and North Macedonia, saying the trend should continue.
Foreign Minister Osmani stressed that having resolve and a strategic approach would lead to a clear and unequivocal European perspective resulting in full EU membership. Regarding business ties with Croatia, Osmani said the total economic cooperation with the country amounted to USD 220 million and noted that economic potentials should be better used to reflect the close bilateral relations. Osmani also said the countries’ foreign ministries signed a Memorandum of Understanding for training of diplomats.
