Michalis Rokas, the European Union ambassador to North Macedonia, stated today that the Union is fully committed to the country’s European future and leaves no room for doubt that it will be part of the EU. Speaking before the National Council for European Integration, in a session dedicated to key aspects of the process, Rokas underlined: “You should have no doubt that the European Commission is fully determined to see your country as a full member of the EU.”
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The ambassador noted that the enlargement process is experiencing a key moment, with positive developments on a daily basis. He recalled the recent intergovernmental conferences with Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, and Montenegro, where new negotiating chapters were opened and closed. According to him, this marks a new phase in the enlargement policy, with particularly noticeable progress in the case of Montenegro.
Rokas also mentioned that discussions within the EU have included an analysis of the costs of enlargement. A study based on the example of Montenegro shows that the expenses would be less than one euro per day per citizen, which proves the financial sustainability of the process.
The ambassador stressed that France and Germany have been the promoters of this initiative, which aims to accelerate accession and the fulfillment of necessary conditions, while at the same time candidate countries gradually gain more access to the EU’s internal market. “This is precisely what we are working on in parallel in this process,” he added.
Speaking about North Macedonia, Rokas assessed that the country has demonstrated the ability to implement reforms. He welcomed the commitment of the Assembly and the adoption of a series of laws, adding that with the assistance of the EU Delegation, the institutions can successfully prepare for membership. “Without a doubt, the country has shown that it possesses the capacity for reforms. I welcome the work completed in Parliament, especially for the laws adopted in this chamber. With the support of the Delegation, we believe we will prepare you for EU membership,” Rokas stated.
Finally, the ambassador emphasized that there are three key areas in which the country must maintain full commitment, singling out the rule of law. He warned that there is no room for compromise in these spheres, because they constitute the fundamental criteria upon which the entire membership process is built.
