Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timço Mucunski discussed the European Commission’s latest report, reforms and the challenges of European integration in an interview with Sitel television’s news program.
According to Mucunski, the report offers an objective and realistic assessment of the country’s progress toward EU integration. It identifies advances in some areas, but also the need for more work in others.
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“I would not call them criticisms, but guidance on the steps we need to take to improve. The report is in our interest. We should see this not as an obligation to the European Union, but as an obligation to our citizens, because we are aiming for high standards and have invested considerable time and resources in them for years,” Mucunski said.
The minister said the country had received the highest ratings for foreign policy, security and defense for several consecutive years. He stressed that these ratings reflected both its international activities and the state’s strategic direction.
On judicial reform and the fight against corruption, Mucunski noted that responsibility does not rest with the executive branch alone. “What matters is not only which laws the government passes, but also how they are implemented and the concrete results achieved by institutions, particularly the judiciary in the fight against high-level corruption,” he said.
Referring to political assessments of the report, he called for attention to focus on its content and the European Union’s findings.
Mucunski expressed appreciation for the new mechanisms for gradual integration, the merit-based process and efforts to limit the influence of bilateral issues on EU enlargement.
“Throughout our journey toward European integration, we have heard many encouraging words and often spoken of windows of opportunity. Now we expect shared commitment and results. We do not claim that only the European Union must deliver results for us. We, too, must commit ourselves, implement reforms and ensure a predictable and secure framework for our path toward integration,” the minister stressed.
On unresolved issues in the European integration process, he said solutions should be based on clear principles and that fixed deadlines should not be imposed.
“We have not promised to resolve the issue within six months or a year. We are moving step by step, not only to improve the situation, but also to regain certain positions we did not previously have. Nevertheless, we are not giving up on European integration. Both our statements and our concrete actions demonstrate that,” Mucunski said.
He added that decision-making must take into account the possible consequences and expectations that may arise later in the process.
“We are not prepared to enter naively, without weighing the consequences, into a process when we have direct evidence that further demands may follow one step. These processes are difficult and take a long time,” Mucunski said.
According to the minister, European institutions and member states should recognize both society’s broad support for EU integration and the government’s commitment to European values.
“Putting European values into practice includes mutual understanding and respect for others’ identities, linguistic differences and culture. A solution can always be found if the other side has the desire and the will,” he said.
Mucunski stressed that domestic reforms must proceed alongside efforts to resolve outstanding political issues, while meeting EU criteria remains an essential part of the process.
“We must find solutions, and we will work toward that, but reaching an agreement at any cost must not be an imperative,” Mucunski concluded.
