Gashi before international students: North Macedonia’s European integration process must deliver concrete benefits for citizens

Assembly Speaker Afrim Gashi delivered a speech before a delegation of 36 international postgraduate students from the Department of European Transformation and Integration at the College of Europe, Tirana campus. The students, who come from 19 European countries, are staying in the Republic of North Macedonia for a study visit.

During his speech, Gashi stressed that North Macedonia’s European integration is a long-term and strategic orientation, but also a process that must bring concrete benefits to citizens.

He also addressed the complexity of the membership process. Gashi recalled that 23 years have passed since the 2003 Thessaloniki Summit, which confirmed the clear European perspective of the region’s countries once the necessary conditions and criteria are met. Taking into account the changed circumstances, he described EU enlargement today as a matter of security and stability. He also highlighted the importance of appreciating compromises, recalling that the country changed its name for the purpose of Euro-Atlantic integration, while the opening of EU accession chapters did not follow.

Further, Gashi stressed the importance of candidate countries carrying out their domestic tasks, namely implementing the reform agenda and reforms in areas such as the rule of law, human capital, digital and green transitions, and the economy. These, according to him, form the foundations for improving the quality of life and moving closer to European standards. Regarding the Assembly, he reiterated the commitment to an open legislative chamber and to implementing the highest standards so that it responds as well as possible to citizens’ needs, according to a statement from Gashi’s office.