Thursday, 17 February 2022
PRESENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPORT FOR 2021
Today, the Committee on European Affairs of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, chaired by the Chair of the Committee, Arber Ademi, held its 31st Meeting, on the agenda of which was the EC Report on the Republic of North Macedonia for 2021.
The Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of North Macedonia, Ambassador David Geer and the Deputy – Prime Minister for European Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, Bojan Maricic, had introductory speeches on the Annual Report.
In his address, Ambassador Geer underlined that the European Commission with its Report for 2021 on our country, delivers a strong and clear signal that a credible enlargement policy remains a key geostrategic investment in peace, stability and economic development throughout Europe.
Regarding the Report, he said that the country continues to meet the conditions for opening of the accession negotiations with the Union and that the Assembly should promote a strong consensus on European issues, with the wider involvement of civil society in all developments.
Deputy – Prime Minister Maricic, emphasized that the Report notes that the country has steady and decisive dynamics in the implementing the EU reforms, especially in key areas, such as the rule of law, including the fight against corruption and organized crime. Thereby, he pointed out that the Republic of North Macedonia continues to meet the conditions for holding the First Intergovernmental Conference, as well as to meet the criteria for opening the negotiations. Maricic underlined that the sustainability of these structural reforms is a long-term process that presupposes continued engagement by the Government, including the opposition and civil society organizations and associations.
The Chair of the Committee, Arber Ademi, said that this is an important period for our European integration, especially given the intensive talks with neighboring Bulgaria. Thereby, he stressed that good neighborly relations and regional cooperation remain essential elements of the enlargement process, as well as of the Stabilization and Association Process. This was also pointed out in the December conclusions of the Council last year, when we did not get the green light to hold the First Intergovernmental Conference, which would have started our negotiations on the First Cluster “Fundamentals”, although we had positive assessment on the rule of law, including the fight against corruption and organized crime.
The following MPs participated in the discussion: Zaklina Pesevska, Snezana Kaleska-Vanceva, Zekir Ramcilovic, Marija Petrusevska, Halil Snopce, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and Lidija Tasevska.
In their discussions, opinions and views were expressed regarding the Report, in which the joint commitment of both the majority and opposition to continue the European reforms was emphasized, in accordance with the assessments stated in the text of the Report, emphasizing the need for increased efforts to improve parliamentary control over the Government regarding the laws that harmonize our legislation with the European one. Also, the need in the future to reduce the number of laws submitted to the Assembly in shortened procedure and with the EU flag was pointed out.
Based on the discussion, reaffirming the commitment to fully meet the political and economic criteria, as well as the ability to assume the liabilities of the membership in the European Union, on the occasion of the European Commission Progress Report on the Republic of North Macedonia for 2021, the Committee on European Affairs adopted the following:
CONCLUSIONS:
The Committee on European Affairs:
1. Welcomed the European Commission Report on the Republic of North Macedonia for 2021, as an important document in which are realistically shown the achieved progress in meeting the political and economic criteria and chapters of the acquis;
2. Welcomes the conclusion that North Macedonia maintains the positive assessments and urges the member states, without further delay, to implement the Decision for opening the accession negotiations with North Macedonia, adopted on March 2020 by the European Council and to adopt the Negotiation Framework and to hold the First Intergovernmental Conference as soon as possible;
3. Reaffirms the strategic commitment of all political actors in the Assembly for adoption of the reform laws, through a constructive and sustainable political dialogue and debate within the Assembly, in order to achieve a broad national consensus on European integration;
4. Expresses its gratitude for the 9 billion Euro financial assistance under the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, in the form of grants and favorable loans for support of the economic convergence of the Western Balkans with the European Union, which delivers a strong message of support for the European perspective of the Region and its accelerated economic development;
5. The content of these conclusions should be introduced to the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Secretariat on European Affairs and it should be published on the website of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia.