go to the original language article
Brussels – European Union integration should be a process where achievements are the decisive factor, not bilateral issues, because we can no longer accept ultimatums and the principle “they are in, you are out” is unacceptable for us.
This was stated by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski from Brussels, where he made a working visit yesterday, accompanied by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mutsunski and for European Affairs Orhan Murtezani. Mickoski, together with the leaders of the other five Western Balkan countries, attended a working lunch organized by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and had meetings with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Olivér Várhelyi, and the head of the Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), Gert Jan Koopman.
Mickoski emphasized that these meetings discussed the European perspective of the region and our country, stressing that we remain focused on proposing solutions to the challenges. The Prime Minister pointed out that nearly two and a half decades since starting the path to EU membership, our country has been a victim of bilateral problems, i.e., the bilateralization of the pre-accession process.
Because of bilateral issues, because of issues stemming from the Middle Ages, we cannot develop as a state for the 21st century, let alone talk about something more. So once again, I emphasized that we can no longer accept ultimatums and the principle they are in, you are out and if you want to be there, you need to accept it… sorry, but we cannot accept it, Mickoski said.
He emphasized that we have been humiliated many times, even though in the name of European values and the desire to be part of the European family, we changed the flag, banknotes, the Constitution several times, and even the name, only to be faced with an ultimatum in the end. – These are not the European values that my generation fell in love with. I’m ready to talk to anyone until we find a real path that this time will not be humiliating. Let us strengthen the institutions and enrich our capacities as a state, that is what I am asking for. Is this too much? I think it’s not too much, Mickoski said.
The Prime Minister also stated that the region and the country are tired of being sidelined and of obstacles that are bilateral and not part of the objective criteria for Union accession, so greater efforts must be made to build trust and credibility in the entire accession process. (September 20)