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Rokas to MIA: The only goal during my term is to help North Macedonia join the EU

by AI | 14.Oct 2024 | Europe in brief AI

Rokas says that EU membership has no alternative and that enlargement is the Union’s most successful policy. He says he understands the Government’s proposal for deferred implementation of constitutional amendments, but emphasizes that accession is a process based on unanimity.

Michalis Rokas, head of the EU Delegation in North Macedonia. Photo: MIA/Frosina Naskovic

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Skopje – The sole purpose of my mandate is to help the country enter the EU as quickly as possible, stated the new EU ambassador to North Macedonia, Mihalis Rokas, in an interview to MIA, which is his first interview since assuming his new duty in the country last month.

Rokas says that EU membership has no alternative and that enlargement is the Union’s most successful policy. He says he understands the Government’s proposal for the delayed application of constitutional amendments, but emphasizes that accession is a process based on unanimity. 

– Enlargement is a process based on unanimity, we are all aware of this Government proposal. My humble opinion is that it is unlikely to be accepted, as I have explained earlier there is a stance of the EU from the 27 member states in this regard. So, of course, it is essential to ensure that we are aware of this context. The decision on constitutional amendments is a sovereign decision of the Government and is very important, we have enormous respect for how the Government wants to proceed further and the solutions it wants to achieve, but the process is quite clear, and it can be immediate and can proceed very quickly and what I can reiterate is the complete commitment to EU accession, which includes North Macedonia, emphasizes Rokas.

In the interview with MIA, EU ambassador Rokas also talks about judicial reforms, the recommendations of the Evaluation Mission, the Western Balkans Growth Plan, BRICS, and EU-China relations. (October 13)

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