Though the initiative to introduce a qualified majority vote in decision-making processes didn’t get the green light in Brussels, Austria and Slovenia are adamant they will continue to push the idea.
Even though several leaders, primarily Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, but also his counterparts from Greece and Bulgaria, opposed the proposal at last week’s summit in Copenhagen, in Skopje, on Monday, at a joint press-conference with North Macedonia’s European Affairs Minister, Orhan Murtezani, the State Secretary at the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Neva Grasic, and Austria’s Europe, Integration, and Family Minister, Claudia Plakolm, stated that the initiative, together with Germany and Italy, had the support of 16 members, adding that it had been sent to the EC, which would have final say.
Both Plakolm and Grasic stressed that a qualified majority vote should be used for the technical inter-steps, whereas unanimity should be required when negotiations started and ended.
According to Murtezani, the government’s stand is that the current enlargement methodology harms not only interests of candidates, but also the strategic interest of the EU. Both Plakolm and Grasic expressed full support for the Skopje-Sofia dialogue to be strengthened, which, according to North Macedonia’s cabinet, will come after New Year’s.
There was also a message from Grasic and Plakolm that bilateral issues should be resolved bilaterally. Those messages are also expected to be sent during EC President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Skopje soon. Grasic confirmed the visit.
Though she didn’t say when it would come, according to media in Albania, the EC President will pay the visit in mid-October.