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Skopje – At this moment in a new geopolitical context, European Union membership is the best option for both North Macedonia and the region, emphasized the EU’s special representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and for regional issues of the Western Balkans, Miroslav Lajčák, at the Seventh Plenary Conference of the National Convention for the European Union in North Macedonia (NKEU-MK), held in Skopje.
– Geopolitics has created new opportunities for EU enlargement, but these windows do not remain open forever, my advice to you is not to repeat the mistakes of the past, my advice is to seize the moment and put the common interest before party interests, said Lajčák.
He recalled the words of the new European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, who stated that negotiations require intensive efforts from the whole society and this must be a national project in which everyone should be stakeholders.
As Lajčák said, if you ask Chat-GPT about the EU, it will tell you that it is a political and economic Union, but above all, it is a Union of people united in their diversity. These people, according to him, need to believe in the Union because there are many worrying trends, such as hybrid wars, populism, and declining trust, which endanger the European project.
– I am not saying that the EU is perfect, but I would like to say a few words about the European path of Macedonia. When you started this process, I thought you would progress a lot, but unfortunately, you are not even close and I share your frustration. Everything that was mentioned must be fulfilled. The fact is that the parameters are set and I will not say anything new, do not miss this opportunity and do not risk being left behind. Also, in terms of recent geostrategic developments, enlargement is indeed a priority for this European Commission, and the President of the European Council has been involved with the region in the last few days, said Lajčák. (11 December)