18
May
2022
Watch
2021 Report on North Macedonia (debate)
Mr President, dear colleagues, thank you all for your strong commitment to the European path of North Macedonia, and thank you for your certainly positive contribution. I couldn’t agree more with the Commissioner that the accession process provides the best way to secure the rule of law, high democratic standards. Certainly – answering to Madame Zovko – the rights of minorities should be at the forefront of this accession process. I am trying to send a clear message in my report as well. To Mr Yordanov, I would like to assure him that I start with the Friendship Treaty and the Prespa agreement, and I finish my report again with the Friendship Treaty and the Prespa agreement, because they are the backbones of our report – not only our report, but they are the backbones of the strategic relationship between North Macedonia and Bulgaria, and between Greece and North Macedonia. They bring historical reconciliation. I concur with our colleagues saying that our credibility as the European Union is at stake. Yes, it is at stake because we didn’t deliver on our promises. We shouldn’t keep giving promises and making again and again the same mistakes. So to finish on a positive note, thank you colleagues and shadow rapporteurs for your contributions. Certainly, your efforts improved my report, and I’m looking very much forward to have a strong, positive pro—European report by your vote tomorrow – and that is mainly for the citizens of North Macedonia. The times are critical, and it’s certainly not a time to play nationalistic games, but it’s time to take courageous pro—European steps. I’m happy that we have the similar approach, not only on my report, but also on the entire Western Balkans, together in this House.