Hahn: Start of negotiations with Macedonia if Reforms are implemented

The EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn says in an interview for MIA that the EU will start membership negotiations with Macedonia in June 2019 only if the country implements all reforms required for this process. “Given the efforts it took to achieve the signing of the NATO protocol, for which the Prespa Agreement paved the way, I can just applaud all political leaders involved. This is yet another historic decision achieved by the country’s leadership. The NATO integration of the future Republic of North Macedonia will contribute to the security and stability of the Western Balkans and of Europe as a whole. NATO and EU accession are processes of their own, with specific conditions and procedures, but both contribute in parallel to the stability and peace and are based on same principles such as democracy and rule of law,” Hahn says, expressing confidence that EU member states will acknowledge this remarkable achievements of Macedonia in June.