On Friday, in Parliament, the new composition of the National European Integration Council was formed. The first item on the agenda was the European Commission’s 2024 Report on North Macedonia.
SDSM leader Venko Filipce, who heads the Council, even though he didn’t directly refer to the constitutional changes, stated that everyone should support both the reform process and the meeting of criteria to open negotiations. When it comes to the Reform Agenda, he said he found the potential dismissals of Judicial Council members to be most problematic.
EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas called on MPs to use the enlargement momentum, reiterating that the constitutional changes remained an obligation on the integration path.
On the other hand, VMRO-DPMNE’s stand is that though political consensus when it comes to EU membership is undisputed, it’s clear there are parties who don’t admit the country’s been blackmailed through unacceptable conditions. Regarding the Judicial Council issue, ruling party parliamentarian Antonijo Milososki, stated that though there was no rush with regards to the changes, they were necessary.
Professor Hristina Runceva Tasev, in the capacity of representative of President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova’s Cabinet, said the EU had to change its decision-making method when it came to enlargement. When it comes to representatives of smaller ethnic communities, they asked for better implementation of minority rights.