SkopjeDiem Macedonia in English
At the regional leader’s meeting in Vienna on Monday, organised by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, the EU’s Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said that countries from the Western Balkans (WB) had a European perspective, adding nonetheless that each would be evaluated separately on that path. Each country will be treated separately, according to its merits, he pointed out. Most likely, all six countries will not become members at the same time, though it needs to be underlined that all of them have a European perspective, according to Hahn. Kurz said the EU was not whole without those countries. Austria, as holder of the EU Presidency, is focused on the region’s progress and stability. In the Austrian Chancellor’s view, the focus is on three issues: the region’s EU path, the necessary regional cooperation and solving bilateral conflicts. The Deputy PM for Economic Affairs, Koco Angjusev said Macedonia was working exactly on those priorities. He thinks all constitutional changes will be adopted by January. The Deputy PM stated that Macedonia would execute its tasks as far as the reforms were concerned and ensure the rule of law, which would open opportunities for economic perspectives of the country. The same day, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, said EU FMs would review the situation in the Western Balkans at the next meeting of the EU Council in December.
