On Thursday, 25 July, European Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn stressed during a visit to Skopje that it was important for North Macedonia to continue its reforms as the October Council must make a decision on opening the country’s accession negotiations with the EU.
“Everyone must be aware of the ultimate objective [opening accession negotiations—Ed.] and, I hope, support the necessary measures that still need to be adopted in order to get the green light in October to start negotiations”, he explained to the media. “All political forces need to focus on this strategic goal”, he emphasised.
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev confirmed that his country has until October to complete the priority reforms, hoping that the momentum with regard to the reform of the judicial system and the revision of the law on public prosecution will continue. He also emphasised combating organised crime and high-level corruption.
In Mr Hahn’s opinion, it is important for citizens to be able to have confidence in independent institutions and in the submission of accounts. “All parties must continue to demonstrate their determination to fight impunity and to uphold the rule of law. Efforts must continue so as to show that there is zero tolerance”, he cautioned. In particular, the commissioner highlighted the need to adopt the law that ensures that work on cases currently under the mandate of the Special Prosecutor’s Office can continue. “There can be no closed cases that would lead to impunity because, with the transition period, deadlines could not be met”, he warned. He also hoped that, regardless of who is being prosecuted, the judicial system would act in accordance with the rules.
And while Macedonians have been waiting 15 years for accession negotiations to be opened, Mr Hahn reiterated that the reforms undertaken before this opening would make it possible to move more quickly during the negotiation process. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)