Governments must prioritize credible and sustainable reforms, and the EU must live up to its commitments. The approach “you deliver, we deliver” must apply. It’s important that accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania start as soon as possible, German Ambassador to North Macedonia Anke Holstein told the first Skopje Economic Forum on Wednesday.
Ambassador Holstein pointed out that the Portuguese EU Presidency has done everything, but it looks like the upcoming Slovenian EU Presidency would have to take over.
Germany remains a strong supporter and will work to make that happen. The future EU membership of Western Balkan countries is our common vision and geostrategic interest. Germany remains firmly committed to this goal,” said Holstein.
The basis for better regional cooperation, Holstein stressed, is trust and the Berlin Process has proved to be useful for positive development of the region.
“Trust and dialogue are most needed in order to overcome the past and build a common future. It’s hard work and it needs time. In the region, ethno-national narratives still find fertile ground, and recent speculation over redrawing borders shows this. Such ideas are dangerous in regions where people of different ethnic backgrounds live together. They close economic cooperation and divert the region from its European path,” Holstein said.
Citizens of the Western Balkans rightly have high expectations, the German Ambassador noted, and they want to see economic growth, health, jobs, and the rule of law.
“This is the basis of the Berlin Process. First, to improve the life of the people in the region with concrete projects, and second, to accelerate EU integration. Since 2014, Western Balkan countries have achieved a lot within this process. Connectivity in the region has become a priority. Thanks to RYCO, young people get to know each other better, and thanks to the roaming agreement, doing business and maintaining friendships is now much cheaper. Finally, good neighborly relations have significantly improved,” Holstein pointed out.
The decision to build a common market is a historic one, Holstein added, and it would bring the four EU freedoms to the region.
