The EU’s enlargement process has finally gained dynamics, and North Macedonia should use this momentum and take a step forward, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský (Pirates, Greens affiliated) said in Skopje on Thursday.
Lipavský visited Skopje with his counterparts from Austria and Slovakia within the so-called Slavkov format. The trio came to the country with a mandate from the EU High Representative Josep Borrell.
“There was an appeal that now is the geopolitical moment when Europe can expand. It would be a mistake if North Macedonia missed this moment,” Czech Minister Lipavský said.
Due to demands from Bulgaria, North Macedonia is expected to change its constitution, so it mentions the existence of a Bulgarian minority in the country.
However, there is strong resistance from opposition parties meaning the required majority to make constitutional amendments is not possible for now.
“We have conveyed a clear message of the EU’s interest for North Macedonia to continue the integration process, to work on all the necessary reforms – and now we are talking especially about the change of the constitution – in order to move the matter forward and have another intergovernmental conference,” Lipavský told EURACTIV.cz on his way back from Skopje to Prague.
Ministers also held talks with representatives of the opposition party VMRO-DPMNE, including its leader Hristijan Mickoski, which opposes constitutional amendments. According to Lipavský, the opposition communicated its dissatisfaction and disagreement with the constitutional change to CEE ministers.
The trip will result in a joint letter which will be presented to the next Foreign Affairs Council by Austrian FM Alexander Schallenberg.
“We had a meeting with the whole political spectrum. Everybody who we talked to has clearly shown us that they are pro-European and aware of the responsibility,” Schallenberg said in Skopje.
“We will report back (to Brussels). We were not here to interfere as the solution has to come from Skopje, from Macedonian people,” the Austrian minister added.
Slovak Minister Miroslav Wlachovský emphasised that North Macedonia should not miss the momentum and build consensus across the political spectrum around this “strategic goal” of the EU membership path.
(Aneta Zachová | EURACTIV.cz)
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