Slovenian MEP defends North Macedonia’s EU progress

Slovenian Member of European Parliament (MEP) Irena Joveva has told MIA it is not fair to put North Macedonia in the company of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina when it comes to the progress on the European path.

"I have to say that Albania and primarily Montenegro are realistically most advanced in the region when it comes to reforms and progress. Not to criticize European (Enlargement) Commissioner Marta Kos or the Commission, but I believe it's not fair that we are in the same company with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina," says MEP Joveva, who is of Macedonian descent.

Joveva, a member of the Renew Europe group, says this is not fair considering developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and especially Serbia, CE Report quotes MIA.

"It's not that the country has not made progress, it has, but the assessment is too general. Of course, North Macedonia has not made as much progress as Montenegro, but it should be said loud and clear that progress is there," says Joveva.

According to her, the assessments that the European Union does not want the country to join and that it only uses Bulgaria as an excuse are not true.

"As someone who has rather good insight into the situation, I do not agree with such assessments and think they are inappropriate, especially at this time. The momentum is here. It has nothing to do with wanting or not wanting, but with reality, and the reality is that North Macedonia has made progress," says Joveva.

She adds that the Bulgaria dispute is bilateral, which is clearly stated by the European Parliament and the European Commission in recent reports.

"It is not fair to put North Macedonia in the same company with Serbia, but it's also not fair to use the general situation in the region to gain political points. North Macedonia is a country that deserves a place in the EU and I believe it will get there one day. Reforms need to continue," says MEP Joveva.