Message for Skopje from Germany, France and Poland

2023-07-19 08:39:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Senior diplomats from Germany, France and Poland ask the politicians in North Macedonia to support the constitutional changes.

European integration is now in your hands. Adopt the constitutional changes and become part of the European Union. This was the message of three senior diplomats from Germany, France and Poland after the meeting with the highest political authorities in North Macedonia.

Critical stage for the future of the country

The Secretary of State for Europe and Climate at the MFA of Germany, Anna Lührmann, called the current political moment in North Macedonia a critical stage for the country's future. She asked political leaders to support the constitutional changes.

"These changes will make North Macedonia an example of a multi-ethnic state. We encourage all persons and political actors in the Republic of Macedonia to support the government to overcome this important step, which leads to the EU," he said. Lührmann.

The French Secretary of State for the EU, Llorens Boon, said that this chance given to North Macedonia should be used by local politicians. "This discussion about constitutional changes will not be accompanied by new demands from the Bulgarian side, or from any other country, and thus the RMV will automatically be in the negotiation phase. I want to be clear, we want this to happen as soon as as soon as possible," Bun said.

The Western Balkans has strong support from Poland

The Polish diplomat, Shimon Shinkovski, said he understands the RMV's frustration over the slow progress towards EU accession, adding that all Western Balkan countries have strong support from Poland. "The decision is now in the hands of the political class in Macedonia, and changes to the constitution have been agreed between the RMV and the EU, which changes will enable you to proceed to the next step, or rather the most decisive step, integration into European Union, and this will be a serious decision for RMV", said Shinkovski.

VMRO-DPMNE: We do not accept confusion under the dictates of Bulgaria

The Macedonian opposition led by VMRO-DPMNE in the meeting with the Weimar troika once again expressed against the constitutional changes. "We remain in the position that constitutional changes in circumstances of political dictation from the neighborhood are not acceptable. The role of the neighbors should be a supporting role of our Euro-Atlantic integrations, and not to deny the Macedonian national identity.

Yes for the EU, but not for the blackmail from Bulgaria, which offers no assurance that the process of European integration will not be blocked again due to irrational issues, which Bulgaria still seems to have towards Macedonia", declared Antonio Miloshovski from VMRO-DPMNE.

The parliamentary majority loses three deputies

Meanwhile, the government has approved the initiative for constitutional changes. Now the procedures for it to be submitted to the Assembly are following. But the parliamentary majority in North Macedonia was lost on 18.07. three deputies, thereby jeopardizing not only the approval of the constitutional changes, but also that the country will go to early parliamentary elections. Now the number of deputies of the position in the Assembly has dropped from 64 to 61, which means that the departure of just one deputy is enough for the opposition to raise a motion of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski.

The vice-president of the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), Izet Mexheti, has announced that he is leaving the BDI and that he will form a new political movement. He was joined by another DUI deputy, as well as an independent deputy, who previously supported DUI policies./ DW