Mucunski: EU wants reforms, trust and national consensus, not just political promises

North Macedonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mucunski, said the country's EU path requires concrete reforms, trust-building and a broad national consensus — not merely political promises or fixed deadlines.

Speaking after the European Commission's latest progress report, Mucunski argued that bilateral issues with Bulgaria are important but form only one part of the broader accession process.

"We need a national consensus around the process of European integration. And that covers a number of issues among which is the issue with Bulgaria. That is an important part, but it is not the only element. I do not believe we should tie ourselves to dates, that we should tie ourselves to political promises, but we should do what is most important for us as a state – first to carry out these reforms, because we need them as a society, and also to work rationally to build trust with Bulgaria as a neighbour and if there is willingness and interest from the other side to find some solution that will improve bilateral relations and leave room for us to have a common future," Mucunski said.

EU report: progress noted, rule of law still key

The European Commission's report, published two days ago, acknowledges good preparedness in several fields while flagging remaining challenges in rule of law — a decisive area for opening accession negotiations.

"The report particularly points out that there is a good level of preparedness in foreign and security policy, as well as in education and science. Digital transformation is one of the areas with a good level of preparedness and we have a certain to moderate level in the area of the rule of law, which is of essential importance for the start of enlargement negotiations," said Ben Nupnau, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to North Macedonia.

Justice-sector reform remains central to the reform agenda. "The new Criminal Code goes together with the Criminal Procedure Code and they are part of the reform agenda. They are in the final phase. This is a serious and significant reform step in the part of the judiciary," said Alen Dereban, Deputy Minister of Justice.

Education ministry leaders also stressed legal changes aimed at raising quality and alignment with European standards. "For our country it will be very important to adopt the three laws on higher education, on research activities, but also on quality in higher education. It will help us with accreditation, which is a remark," Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska said.

Photo: press material from the event