We can not give up countries that have made efforts and tell them “you had a problem with Greece, and now with Bulgaria.” “Skopje should be given a signal and start negotiations with the EU,” he said former French Minister for European Affairs Natalie Loazo.
Loazo, who is from the party of French President Emmanuel Macron, and whose country takes over the rotating presidency of the EU in January 2022, in a statement to BNR transmitted by Deutsche Welle, points out that it is obvious that there should be dialogue and a solution.
– Nobody says that tomorrow, in 2022, Northern Macedonia will join the EU. We say that negotiations should start, during which everything will be put on the table. And they will not move forward if all human rights and fundamental values are not moved forward. But these people need to be signaled, because they are flattered by China, Russia and Turkey. What do we want – to finally turn their backs on us? “It’s not in anyone’s interest,” Loazo said.
Asked if there was a French initiative to resolve the bilateral dispute between Bulgaria and Northern Macedonia, Loazo did not answer directly.
– I hope that this dispute will be resolved, because I would like the negotiations with Northern Macedonia to start soon. It has made great efforts to meet European expectations. I hope the same for Albania. We know that there is a long way to go, we will look for results, because there is a new methodology for enlargement. But we can not give up those countries that have made efforts, and say to them: ‘Look, there is another problem. You had it with Greece, and now with Bulgaria. ‘ “It will create animosity towards the European Union in the heart of Europe, because geographically, culturally and historically the Balkans are right there,” Loazo said.
Source: MIA
