President Pendarovski made a big mistake by rejecting the offer for membership in the EEA
European Economic Area- EEA offers participation in the single free market, and offers the “four freedoms” of movement of capital, people, goods and services with the EU, and additionally Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
The EEA offers almost all the economic benefits of EU membership, without structural funds. The freedom of movement of people and capital not only opens economic perspectives, but Macedonian citizens will no longer be forced to obtain Bulgarian, Croatian, Slavic passports to open the door to their economic or educational activity throughout Europe.
EEA is not an alternative, but a stage and a stepping stone to EU membership.
At the summit in Sofia, Macedonia accepted to be part of a single market in the Western Balkans, and it is strange why Pendarovski refused to be part of the EEA as the largest free market on the continent?
In yesterday’s interview on TV Sitel, President Pendarovski said that in November 2019 he talked with Macron about the EEA membership.
So, the question now is why Pendarovski did not announce this in his annual address to the Parliament? Why did he not discuss this offer with the Chambers of Commerce, the Ministry of Finance and why did he not open a public debate in the society, in accordance with his pre-election promise that he would work for a better economic perspective of Macedonia?
President Pendarovski had no right to decide on his own, much less to reject such a strategically good offer for Macedonia’s progress!
