In order to achieve a result on European integration, what was agreed upon in 2022 must be fulfilled. This was stated by the President of the European Council Antonio Costa in Skopje. He gave a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM) Hristijan Mickoski after the two held a meeting, BGNES reported. What was agreed upon has already been agreed upon and there is nothing else to negotiate about. We do not need a plan B, we must implement plan A, stressed Kosta.
We recall that on the eve of Kosta's visit, Mickoski announced that his government's position on the inclusion of Bulgarians in the country's Constitution had not changed, emphasizing that there was no signal of a change in our country's behavior.
Antonio Kosta noted that he and Mickoski had discussed the steps that the Republic of Macedonia should take to continue on the path to joining the European Union (EU). "I encourage the Prime Minister to make efforts to achieve further progress. You can count on us, on the European Union. It is key to continue with reforms, to invest in the law and the fight against corruption," he pointed out.
He emphasized that the future of North Macedonia is in the EU and compared the accession process to a marathon. "It can be frustrating at times, as it has been for all previous candidates. But they all achieved the goal, and you will achieve the goal too. I believe we share the goal of EU enlargement," Costa said. He commented that this is the best investment in peace, stability and security to be made and congratulated Skopje on the progress of the country's reform agenda.
"Prime Minister Mickoski knows that he can count on me and the EU to turn a new page and move forward. That was the reason I visited Bulgaria two weeks ago. When you ask "what guarantees do we have?", it is clear that what has been agreed has been agreed and there is nothing else to negotiate. Now is the time to implement it and there is no room to ask for anything more," the President of the European Council said.
"I understand the Prime Minister when he talks about changing the name, the flag. When he talks about the previous changes to the Constitution. Now we have to make sure that no one will come and ask for anything more than what has already been agreed. I agree with him, but what has been agreed must be fulfilled.", he said.
Antoniu Costa also stressed that Corridors 8 and 10 must be completed, because this will bring concrete results for the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia.