During the meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), MEPs exchange views with Nikola DIMITROV, Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Statements by Nikola DIMITROV, Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK) and Ivo VAJGL (ALDE, SI).

Brussels

exchange of views

meeting

EU - North Macedonia (T)

PREDA, Cristian Dan (EPP, RO)

TANNOCK, Timothy Charles Ayrton (ECR, UK)

VAJGL, Ivo (ALDE, SI)

DIMITROV, Nikola

Exchange of views with Nikola DIMITROV, Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: extracts from the meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/17846256/I159565Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

Entering the meeting room, handshake. (2 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Nikola DIMITROV, Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, When we won peace in the Balkans, in the 90s, the European vision won. We all move forward, we all work hard on our checks and balances and we all share a vision where the region as part of the European Union and where borders won&rsquo;t matter that much. I think the fact that this vision is now to some extent challenged the fact that we have the return of geopolitical competition in the Balkans, is to a large extent due to the lack of tractions, lack of stream of the accession process. I don&rsquo;t see any other vision for sustainable piece democracy and prosperity in our region.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nikola DIMITROV, Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, The migration crisis of 2015 and partly 2016 showed this perfect, and show why this region is so critical to Europe's own security. We don&rsquo;t really have an alternative, this is a region that trades 3/4 of the exchange with European market. That's goes for my country as well.  The same with the foreign direct  investment 3/4 of foreign companies in the country come from EU. We are on this boat together economically, politically, our future wise and our security wise.  

SOUNDBITE (English), Nikola DIMITROV, Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, This is this is the second chance for my generation to make sure that our country crosses the line of certainty. We have been waiting for so long in the waiting room, both on NATO and on the EU. Politicians can make careers quarrelling with our neighbours. You cannot really have a successful country in the Balkans if the region is not successful. All of us are natural allies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nikola DIMITROV, Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, If we want to keep our young generation at home, we have to bring Europe to our region , to our country. We are determined to do it, we will win this Referendum. We have a tradition of making wise choices when we are asked difficult questions . While you can ask for a better political situation in terms of responsibility, because some politicians, some of us, shay away from responsibility for the deeds of the past, and some of us shay away from facing responsibility of our future.

SOUNDBITE (French), Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), The agreement between Macedonia and Greece shows clearly that things in the Balkans can move to the right direction. This is a very good news , and we have to support both parties involved, the Macedonians and the Greeks in the ratification of this agreement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), You've been a candidate for more than a decade without being allowed to start negotiations and hopefully also NATO membership. I believe that the Western Balkans as a region is now hopefully entering a stable and peaceful period. There are even talk as you alluded to have an agreement between Kosovo in Serbia regarding their disputes and of course the large migratory refluxes, at least for the time being, have been diminished.

SOUNDBITE (Slovenian), Ivo VAJGL (ALDE, SI), I would like to mention on issue: The referendum needs to be an event that pools the citizens of Macedonia together. All the parties need to do what they promised when we were working on the agreement and all the following meetings of course. Parties need to put the interest of the country first!