The issue of North Macedonia’s European integration continues to remain a “bone of contention” in the political clashes between the government and the opposition. Over the past few days, the two main parties, the ruling VMRO-DPMNE and the opposition SDSM, have exchanged harsh accusations through official statements and press conferences, blaming each other for the stagnation of the European process.
SDSM: 20 DAYS UNTIL THE FAILURE OF THE REFORM AGENDA
The SDSM has warned that a critical deadline is approaching for the government of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski. According to the Social Democrats, only 20 days remain until the moment when the failure of the current executive to fulfill the reform agenda will be officially confirmed.
The opposition party accuses Mickoski of using two parallel strategies to cover up the lack of results. The first, according to SDSM, is the deliberate deterioration of relations with Bulgaria and the creation of tensions with the eastern neighbor. The second, the systematic attack on the opposition and the accusation that SDSM is blocking the reform process. “Mickoski claimed that the opposition was obstructing the reform agenda, only to later admit himself that he does not need the opposition for reforms,” the party statement says.
SDSM recalls that the Prime Minister holds an absolute majority in the Assembly and that, just as he abolished the caretaker government without consensus, he can approve the necessary laws and reforms himself.
SDSM also today, through a press conference by its spokesperson and member of the Executive Presidency, Bogdanka Kuzeska, conveyed the message that the inclusion of minorities in the Constitution does not endanger the Macedonian identity, but strengthens it and paves the way for the country to join the European Union. Kuzeska accused VMRO-DPMNE and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of “continuing to lie” that the constitutional amendments pose a threat to the Macedonian identity. “The truth is the opposite. The inclusion of minorities in the Constitution strengthens the Macedonian national identity, it does not weaken it,” Kuzeska emphasized.
She emphasized that when all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, are defined and protected by the highest legal act, this contributes to greater cohesion and stronger citizenship.
VMRO-DPMNE: SDSM IS WORKING FOR FOREIGN STATES
The response from VMRO-DPMNE has been harsh. The ruling party has accused SDSM and its leader Venko Filipce of doing “reporting” in Bulgaria instead of working for Macedonia.
The VMRO-DPMNE statement refers to a rating of only 4 percent attributed to SDSM, claiming that the opposition has turned towards “foreign states and foreign parties” after losing support at home. The main point of the ruling party’s argument is related to the constitutional changes. According to VMRO-DPMNE, SDSM continues to claim that these changes are “the last step towards the EU”, while the new Bulgarian President Rumen Radev “categorically says in every one of his appearances that after the constitutional changes, Bulgaria will have other demands”.
The ruling party calls on SDSM to “finally come to its senses” and defend “Macedonian identity, integrity and dignity,” accusing Filipce of continuing the policies of former Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.
BACKGROUND: CALLS FOR UNION AND THEIR REFUSAL
The clash of statements comes after two calls for “national unity” that Prime Minister Mickoski made last week. The first call he made during the celebration of Victory Day over fascism, speaking of the need for unity “not in fear, but in hope” and “not in division, but in the common struggle” for a stronger economy.
A day later, in the village of Tumince in Albania, where he unveiled a monument to the Macedonian heroes of that time, the prime minister repeated the message. “Let us unite around national interests. Around the future of our children. Around respect for our history and the dignity of the people. Our ancestors did not separate when they defended freedom,” Mickoski declared.
Filipce dismissed these calls as political maneuvers, claiming that the prime minister does not clarify what concretely the country should unite for. “The prime minister raises the issue that unity is necessary. Does he say what to unite for? For every message we convey that Europe is necessary, they unleash their lies and fake news and attack us for being traitors,” said the SDSM leader.
MUCUNSKI ORDERED OLD ME
Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timco Mucunski, in a statement given before the start of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, stressed that enlargement is imperative for both the European Union and the candidate countries, underlining that it is about the Western Balkans ceasing to be a “gray area” of Europe and creating a group of countries with a clear and credible path towards membership. He noted that the country has achieved concrete results in the implementation of the Reform Agenda, especially in recent months, emphasizing that North Macedonia is 100 percent aligned with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, which, as he emphasized, confirms not only the commitment to reforms, but also the clear strategic orientation towards membership in the Union. “Our message to member states is multi-layered. It is necessary to break away from the bilateralization of membership criteria, but also to strengthen engagement on issues that go beyond the enlargement process itself, especially in the areas of security and defense, economy and trade, energy security, food security and digitalization,” emphasized Minister Mucunski.
The Council’s agenda included a discussion on the European Union’s relations with the Western Balkans, where talks focused on current foreign policy and security issues of common interest, with particular emphasis on further strengthening cooperation in the field of foreign policy, security and defense, the Russian aggression against Ukraine, as well as the broader Regional consequences of current global developments. (koha.mk)