European integration must not be held hostage to bilateral issues. The accession negotiations with the EU should not become a negotiation with Bulgaria. Our progress in EU integration should primarily depend on domestic reforms related to chapters, EU legislation and the acquirement of European standards, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev wrote on his Facebook profile on Friday.
“European leaders must take seriously the fact that endless and repetitive disappointments inevitably open the door and encourage Eurosceptics. Therefore, the EU must find a formula on how to keep its word and continue the enlargement of the Western Balkans,” Zaev said.
We have shown, Zaev added, courage and sincere will to resolve bilateral relations through mutual respect and protection of national dignity.
“Bilateral issues should not be part of the negotiations or in the negotiating framework. It is a dangerous precedent, and it is a position shared by all other EU member states. Macedonian national identity is simply impossible to be the subject of negotiations. No one and no act should question human dignity, equality and solidarity, rule of law, human rights,” PM Zaev said in a Facebook post.
