Zaev-Timmermans: The country’s achievements should be acknowledged with a decision for accession talks

The European Union should now take a decisive step and decide on a start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President-Designate of the European Commission (EC), said at a meeting Thursday in Brussels.

It will also send a strong message to the other countries in the region that to make difficult and responsible decisions and pursue deep reforms is to invest into a better future, they concluded, the government’s PR sector said.

At a meeting with Deputy PM in charge of European affairs Bujar Osmani in attendance, Zaev on his behalf and on behalf of the people of North Macedonia extended gratitude for the support of EU institutions and that of the EU members for its EU integration processes and domestic reforms.

“A positive decision of the European leaders regarding the opening of negotiations with North Macedonia is a logical acknowledgement of the country’s current results and a strong incentive to continue to pursue reforms aimed at meeting the EU standards,” Zaev said at the meeting.

Any delay of the start of negotiations will ‘leave room for third parties to be able to spread influence, to whom democratic values aren’t a priority,’ Zaev noted.

“Praising the government’s policies and achievements, EC Vice President Timmermans said they have the support of the European institutions and of a huge majority of EU countries that are in favor of approving a start for accession negotiations,” reads the press release.