Foreign Affairs MEPs welcome North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister
On Thursday at 14.45, MEPs will exchange views with Bujar Osmani on North Macedonia’s efforts and prospects in the EU accession process.
Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs will discuss with Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani how North Macedonia is implementing EU-related reforms. MEPs are expected to follow up on North Macedonia’s efforts to improve neighbourly relations, domestic reforms and its foreign policy agenda.
Before the discussion with Mr Osmani, MEPs will debate the draft annual report on North Macedonia in which the rapporteur Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Renew, Bulgaria) welcomes the country’s clear strategic direction and commitment to European integration. The draft report urges authorities to work further on strengthening the democratic process, the rule of law, and combating corruption. It also welcomes the consensual engagement of the country’s main political forces, which has enabled key legislation to be adopted and has facilitated a smooth electoral process back in July.
When: Thursday, 10 December, from 14.45 to 15.45
Where: European Parliament in Brussels, Jozsef Antall 4Q2, and remotely.
Check the full agenda and speakers list. You can follow the discussion live
Background
Since October 2009, the Commission has continuously recommended that accession negotiations be opened with North Macedonia. In March 2020, the General Affairs Council decided to open the negotiations and, in July 2020, the draft negotiating framework was presented to the member states. After the Commission adopted its “Enlargement package” in October, it was expected that the Council would soon announce the date of the first inter-governmental conference, marking the formal start of the accession negotiations. However, the Bulgarian government announced in November that it would veto North Macedonia’s opening talks on accession to the EU, demanding several changes to the negotiating framework
