North Macedonia Criticizes 2022 Deal

The plan A is full-fledged membership in the European Union and the country will not deviate from that path and there are no dilemmas over our commitment to the European path. However, what we expect from the Union is predictability, i.e., for the bilateral issues to remain bilateral, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski said at a joint press conference Friday with his Austrian counterpart Beate Meinl-Reisinger in Skopje, CE Report quotes MIA.

Quizzed by journalists following the statements by European Council President Antonio Costa that the focus should be on delivering plan A, i.e., what has already been agreed, and that the proposal for deferred constitutional amendments is unacceptable for Bulgaria, Mucunski reiterated that the country “is constantly demonstrating its commitment to full-fledged EU membership through concrete steps”.

“We are the first country in the region that signed a Security and Defence Partnership with the EU, something that is proving to be very significant in the current context. A leading country, according to high EU representative, when it comes to the implementation of the Reform Agenda which is an integral part of the Growth Plan. So, we are showing through our actions that plan A is full-fledged EU membership,” Mucunski said.

The Foreign Minister said the country expects predictability from Brussels and for bilateral issues to stay outside the accession process.

“We are looking for a solution that will give us predictability toward membership, respect for our dignity and identity, and expectations that the EU member states will also respect those principles related to minority rights which they expect us to respect. And in that context, if we are all committed to the European path, I believe that we can always find a rational solution that will be acceptable not only for us as a Government, but also for all citizens living in the country,” Mucunski said.

Mucunski stressed the Government is not prepared to make concessions “that will once again place the country in the same position it is in currently”.

“Our position on this issue is crystal clear, and the citizens should have no dilemmas about this, nor should you as the media. There will always be dialogue, and we will always work, but I will reiterate something that I have been saying constantly – no to a solution at any cost and solutions which would pose further risks and hurdles such as the 2022 solution which is now proving to be a solution that has created additional problems between the countries, instead of being a step forward,” Mucunski stressed.

During his visit to Skopje on Thursday, EU Council President Costa said the country’s Euro-integration process has taken too much time and now is the time to deliver results. Quizzed if the EU has a plan B to overcome Bulgaria’s demands, Costa said plan A should not be undermined and the focus should be on its delivery.