site.btaNorth Macedonia’s PM Kovacevski: EU Must Keep Its Promise, Strategic Partnership with USA Is No Substitute

The European Union must finally dare to fulfil its promise and part of its obligation to set a date for the first intergovernmental conference to mark the start of negotiations as soon as possible, Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovacevski said today.

The Prime Minister pointed out that he coordinates efforts with Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, who said yesterday that they would wait until the summer and if Bulgaria does not lift the veto [on North Macedonia’s EU accession], they will start considering internal reforms. "Of course, there is a dispute with Bulgaria, but we will continue working to harmonize legislation, to deepen our cooperation with all EU member states, but also to increase our strategic partnership with the United States," Kovacevski said. The strategic dialogue with the United States begins in June in several areas - foreign policy, economy, investment, education, defence, and next week a team of ministers and experts will be appointed to Washington and meet there at the appropriate level.

According to Kovacevski, the announced strategic partnership with the United States is not a substitute for EU membership. "We are part of Europe, we have cooperation with the EU in terms of financing a number of projects that are being implemented under the IPA programme. "During the biggest crisis, we received macro-financial assistance from the EU," Kovacevski said, announcing that he is leaving for Brussels next week to meet with countries in the region.

"If a solution is found to the dispute with Bulgaria, based on European values ​​and principles, a solution acceptable to both parties, we can say that we have successful negotiations; if this solution has not yet been reached, it means that negotiations will continue," Kovacevski said. He again declined to commit to a date but stressed that EU enlargement in the region is currently "not only a political and economic issue, but also a geostrategic one, due to the war in Ukraine and third countries' interest in the Western Balkans." 

Kovacevski attended the open day as part of the Swift Response 22 exercise at the Stenkovec Brazda Airfield.