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Baerbock: Berlin is for the abolition of consensus in the EU, but until that happens Skopje must respect the compromises

by AI | 16.Oct 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The rules in the EU are such that decisions are made unanimously, and this is not about some kind of injustice. We do not agree with our European partners on everything, but those are the rules. As long as those rules are not changed, for which I personally advocate, they must be respected, pointed out Bärbock, adding once again that without making the last step, the path to the EU cannot continue.

Press conference of the foreign ministers of North Macedonia and Germany, Timcho Mutsunski (left) and Annalena Baerbock (right). Photo: MIA

Berlin – The head of German diplomacy Annalena Baerbock, after meeting with North Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mutsunski in Berlin, stated that she advocates for abolishing the consensus in EU decision-making, but until that happens, North Macedonia must respect the compromises, reports Deutsche Welle.

– The inclusion of the Bulgarian minority in your Constitution is the last step to open the first negotiation cluster with the EU, stated Baerbock. The meeting comes a day after the Berlin Process summit in Berlin, where the leaders of the Western Balkans agreed on several agreements aimed at improving cooperation in the fields of economy and education.

At the press conference after the meeting with Mutsunski, Baerbock spoke about constitutional changes as a key step toward the beginning of North Macedonia’s negotiations with the EU, emphasizing that she hopes a breakthrough can occur in this area following Bulgaria’s parliamentary elections at the end of this month.

– We know how difficult it is to make constitutional changes in democracies, and this is what I asked during my last visit to North Macedonia. But at that time, an election campaign was underway, and I understood that this step was not possible then. Now there are elections in Bulgaria, and afterward, there is a chance that should be jointly utilized, said Baerbock. 

In this context, the German minister said that leadership is of utmost importance. – In politics, the importance of leadership is often underestimated. Important steps, including integrative processes, have always succeeded when political leaders had the courage to do the best for their country despite the negative social atmosphere. We, as Germany, want to help make this happen in the case of North Macedonia and Bulgaria, said Baerbock.

According to her, in the case of North Macedonia, it’s not about injustice, but about respecting EU rules.

– EU rules are such that decisions are made unanimously, and this is not about any injustice. We do not agree with our European partners on everything, but those are the rules. Until those rules change, which I personally advocate for, they must be respected, said Baerbock, adding once again that without taking the final step, the path to the EU cannot continue. (October 15)