"The Balkans towards the EU, between reforms and reconciliation"/ Message from Andrei Kovačević from Pustec

2025-10-24 15:19:00, Politikë CNA

"The Balkans towards the EU, between reforms and reconciliation"/

In Pustec, the chairman of the European Union Parliamentary Committee on the Accession of the Western Balkans, Andrei Kovacevic, gave a clear message on the European future of the region, stressing the importance of reforms, reconciliation and cooperation between the countries. In his speech, he underlined that the integration process is essential for both the EU and the candidate countries, especially in a period of geopolitical challenges. According to him, the Western Balkan countries should be admitted to the European Union as soon as possible, based on the progress and merits of each of them.

"The integration process is extremely important for both sides, both for the European Union and for the candidate countries. In this difficult geopolitical situation in the world, we must admit all the countries of the Western Balkans as soon as possible. Of course, each country is evaluated on its own merits and according to the progress of reforms. For this reason, we look at all countries in a special way."

Kovacevic praised Albania and Montenegro as the most advanced countries in the integration process, expressing the hope that Albania will soon be welcomed as a full member of the EU. He emphasized that political unity and cooperation between the majority and the opposition are guarantees for achieving this objective.

"Albania and Montenegro are the two countries that are in the most advanced stage of integration and the negotiation process with the European Union. Our hope is that in the coming years we will be able to welcome as full members of the European Union some of the countries of the Western Balkans. I hope that Albania will be among them."

A significant part of his speech was also dedicated to neighborly relations. He called on the Balkan countries to leave behind historical divisions and invest in stronger economic, cultural and educational ties, considering regional cooperation as the key to stability and development.

"The Balkans must overcome what may have divided us in the past and today invest only in good neighborly relations, in infrastructural, economic, trade and financial ties, in ties between people. There should be more visits between different Balkan countries, young people should have the opportunity to be educated where they want, while the borders should be symbolic, as is the case in other countries, including Bulgaria itself, which is already part of this part of the Schengen area."

In his message, Kovacevic also stopped at North Macedonia, appealing for the conditions for the start of negotiations to be met and for any tension regarding identity issues to be avoided. He stated that Bulgaria does not hinder Macedonia's European path, on the contrary, it strongly supports it, only demanding respect for equality and the inclusion of the Bulgarian community in the Constitution.

"This is completely feasible. It depends on you and I consider Albania and Albanian society as one of the most pro-European and Euro-Atlantic. I think that when the majority and the opposition have the same goal, to truly contribute to Albania's rapid membership in the European Union, this will become a reality. Despite political disagreements, this issue should unite everyone and, from what I have observed in the Albanian parliament, both the government and the opposition are unified in this regard."

In conclusion, Kovacevic stressed that the European Union is ready to welcome all Western Balkan countries, provided that they carry out the necessary reforms and build sustainable relations of peace and cooperation.

"I expect that they will finally start negotiations for membership in the European Union, as soon as they fulfill the conditions that the Republic of North Macedonia itself has accepted. We, as the Republic of Bulgaria, have never had a problem with the name Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria in no way hinders Macedonia's European membership. On the contrary, we strongly support the country moving forward. This also means the inclusion of the Bulgarian community in the Constitution, just like all other constituent communities of the state. We also demand that there be no discrimination against those who openly declare their historical Bulgarian identity. A clear call that we welcome all the countries of the Western Balkans as full members of the European Union, but they must carry out their reforms and reconcile with the past. They themselves must overcome the obstacles that prevent us, which come from past eras. Albanian media are also being followed in North Macedonia. I appeal to my friend, Hristijan Mickoski, who after the victory "...after the second round of elections and for his party to leave behind some of the old slogans and as soon as possible to start negotiations for membership in the European Union. We will support and wish for the membership of the present-day Republic of North Macedonia, as well as Albania, but each country is evaluated separately, based on its progress."

This statement was made by the chairman of the parliamentary committee on the EU accession of the Western Balkans, Andrei Kovacevic, from Pustec, where he participated in the visit of Bulgarian doctors to the Health Center of this municipality./ CNA