The Government remains fully committed to the European integration, but the enlargement process must be credible, predictable, and based on objective criteria rather than bilateral conditions, said Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski in an interview with Kanal 5 TV.
In the interview, Mucunski touched upon the country’s EU accession process, noting that the objective reality is that the country has been stalled on opening negotiations not for four, but for fifteen years, since, he said, the European Commission had already assessed back in 2011 that the country met the conditions to begin accession talks.
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Our goal is not just to start negotiations, but for them to be successful and to lead to full-fledged membership within a reasonable timeframe. That is why we have a duty to prevent the creation of new obstacles and new bilateral conditions right at the start of the process,” Mucunski said.
The FM stressed the opening of negotiations depends not only on the adoption of the constitutional amendments, but also on fulfilling all prerequisites, including the adoption of the Action Plan on minorities, noting that the public is often left with the false impression that this is a single-issue matter.
Regarding the reform process, Mucunski said the Government has significantly accelerated the pace of implementing reforms related to the EU accession, especially by meeting the obligations from the Reform Agenda and the Growth Plan.
“The funds the country receives through the Growth Plan are the best confirmation that our reforms are being recognized. These funds are conditioned with the implementation of specific reform steps and would not be made available if those results were lacking,” Mucunski said.
The country’s foreign minister stresses the country remains fully aligned with the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, assessing that the alignment is not just a formal implementation of obligations, but a clear expression of the country’s commitment to European values.
“Our alignment with European foreign policy is not just about sanctions or restrictive measures. It represents a commitment to shared values, common security, and a clear geopolitical orientation,” Mucunski said.
