site.btaBranko Crvenkovski Presents Initiative for New Western Balkans EU Integration Strategy

Speaking at a discussion here on Monday, former president and former prime minister of North Macedonia Branko Crvenkovski said that a new strategy for the Western Balkans’ EU integration is necessary, because the negotiation methodology proposed by France has not produced results: since 2019, neither Serbia nor Montenegro have made a significant step forward in the negotiation process. Despite the positive recommendation of the European Commission, the Republic of North Macedonia did not start accession negotiations in 2019 because of that methodology, and not the Bulgarian veto, he argued during the discussion. 

The forum was on the topic of North Macedonia between Open Balkans and the Berlin Process. It was organized by the Council of Ambassadors in North Macedonia. 

Crvenkovski also argued that when building North Macedonia’s EU integration policies, a broader context should be applied instead of reducing everything to the problem with Bulgaria. The membership candidates should help the EU set a clearer strategy towards the region of the Western Balkans and the process of its integration.

“What at this stage is the most important for us, the Western Balkan countries, and at the same time does not obstruct the already complex decision-making within the Union. That is the access to the common market and the EU funds. The initiative should be for achieving these two goals. To prevent misunderstanding, that will not be an alternative to full EU membership; on the contrary, it would be an intermediate step or a transitional phase that would ease the achievement of that goal,” he said.   

To achieve the goal, the existing European Economic Area could be used, or the EU could sign a new special agreement with all Western Balkan countries allowing their participation in the common market and the use of EU resources, Crvenkovski explained. According to him, the benefits would be that the EU will gain more trust and influence in the region and will eliminate all threats of non-European and anti-European influences, and the countries in the region will improve their economic indices and preparedness for full membership.

Crvenkovski asked that a political party stamp not be placed on this idea.