The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell welcomed her decision Northern Macedonia to be drafted with sanctions of EU against Russia.
Northern Macedonia is fully in line with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, as well as with the EU sanctions package against Russia, following the latter’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The decision to share the sanctions clearly demonstrates your commitment to EU values and puts you on the path to the EU, not only as a candidate country, but also as a responsible member of the international community,” said Josep Borrell after the meeting. he had at noon in Skopje with the Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski.
Mr Borrell announced that there would be a fourth round of sanctions against Russia.
The EU High Representative said that this is a time of awakening for Europe, a time when the enlargement process to the countries of the Western Balkans should be revived.
“I know you have some expectations and rightly so. “We should formally start accession negotiations with Northern Macedonia and Albania as soon as possible, and I hope this will be possible at the next intergovernmental conference,” said Josep Borrell.
He stressed that Northern Macedonia and the whole region are a strategic priority and that the EU is committed to making the European perspective of these countries a reality.
Mr. Borrell welcomed the new momentum between Northern Macedonia and Bulgaria and urged the two countries to find mutually acceptable solutions and settle bilateral issues, because, as he said, “enlargement can not continue if it is hampered by bilateral issues.” .
For a year and a half now, Bulgaria has been blocking the start of accession negotiations between Northern Macedonia and the EU due to open ethnic, linguistic and historical differences between the two countries.
The Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia stated that the current situation of stagnation does not benefit anyone and that the obstruction of the accession negotiations between the EU and Northern Macedonia is felt throughout the region.
“It is necessary for Northern Macedonia to have a strong and clear European perspective,” said Dimitar Kovacevski.
He thanked Mr Borrell for his unequivocal support for the country to receive a date for the start of accession negotiations without delay, and stressed that only a fully united Europe could be strong.
“In the midst of unprecedented instability, there is a need for Europe to be united and strong. The ongoing war is a threat to increased third party influence in the region and therefore we should all be very careful and prepared. Leaving a geostrategic gap in our part of Europe is not an option. “The rapid integration of Northern Macedonia and the region into the EU will ensure stability in Europe,” Kovacevski also stressed.
Regarding the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Dimitar Kovacevski reminded that Northern Macedonia, as a member of NATO and a candidate country for EU membership, has aligned its position with its allies, the US and NATO.
The EU High Representative is touring the Western Balkans to reaffirm the EU’s commitment and support for the region in the midst of the Russian war against Ukraine and its implications for the security of Europe as a whole.
After Skopje, Josep Borrell will travel to Tirana tomorrow, while a day later he will visit Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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