“While the Council welcomes that the new government in North Macedonia has declared EU integration as its strategic goal, it recalls its conclusions of July 2022 and notes that North Macedonia has not yet completed the constitutional changes to which it has committed itself”, it is said in the conclusions approved by the General Affairs Council on Tuesday.
The Council also reiterated its call on the country to speed up the changes process.
“Reiterating the European Council’s call on North Macedonia to accelerate the completion of these changes, the Council reaffirms its readiness to convene another intergovernmental conference, without further delays nor additional political decision, as soon as North Macedonia has implemented its commitment, in line with its internal procedures. Thereafter, the Council stands ready to open the first negotiating cluster as soon as possible, in line with the Negotiating Framework”, it is added, inter alia, in the text.
It is also pointed out that the Council encourages all parties in parliament to ensure cross-party collaboration, with a focus on advancing the implementation of EU-related reforms. Also on Tuesday, the Enlargement Commissioner, Marta Kos, said that she would be helping candidates implement reforms and proceed with the accession process.
In addition, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “There is a new dynamic in the enlargement process and we are making progress. Yesterday, we closed 3 chapters with Montenegro and today we open one cluster with Albania”.
When it comes to Hungary, it sees the importance of the accession process as a stake in the stability, peace, and development of the Western Balkans. In Skopje, EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas said there was huge momentum when it came to enlargement that was an EU priority and that should be used.