Weitz: North Macedonia’s Government Shows Willingness to Advance Toward EU, Provided Bulgaria Doesn’t Raise New Demands

Strasbourg – Thomas Weitz, the European Parliament’s new rapporteur for North Macedonia, conveyed optimism about the country’s Euro-integration prospects, provided that Bulgaria does not impose new conditions or impede the process further. This was reported by MIA’s special correspondent in Strasbourg during a meeting with Macedonian journalists.

Weitz emphasized the need for constitutional changes, along with assurances that no additional demands will be made, stating, “This must be a binding commitment, reflecting the sentiment within the European Union. The Government may struggle to justify to its voters a lack of guarantees. Our focus should be on securing these guarantees to prevent new demands from arising.” Weitz is a member of the Austrian Green party.

When discussing the Government’s request for constitutional amendments with a delayed effect, Weitz expressed skepticism about its feasibility. He acknowledged the legitimacy of the Government’s quest for clarity on demands but doubted that such amendments would succeed.

Weitz stressed the importance of finding guarantees to avoid further blockages and noted that while he cannot propose an exact solution at this time, he anticipates being able to offer more concrete guidance in five to six months. He remarked that North Macedonia has become entangled in its bilateral issues with Bulgaria, complicating negotiations. However, he highlighted that the recent geopolitical shifts following the Russian invasion of Ukraine have underscored the Western Balkans’ role as a central part of Europe.

Commenting on reform progress, Weitz stated that North Macedonia is advancing more effectively than other Western Balkan nations, though he pointed out that the implementation of legislation remains an area for improvement. “North Macedonia is implementing reforms ahead of its regional counterparts, establishing a significant historical foundation for future growth. However, if it takes seven years to initiate a judicial process, that cannot be considered a genuine reform of the judicial system. There is still much work ahead. North Macedonia is on the right track, but the job is far from complete,” he concluded, emphasizing that reforms must benefit citizens and not merely exist on paper. (27 November)