EU member states are expected to unanimously adopt the draft conclusions on December 16 in Brussels.
At its meeting in December, the European Council will again call on North Macedonia to fulfill its obligation and carry out constitutional changes in order to continue the negotiation process, according to the draft conclusions on enlargement, BGNES reported.
The text notes that the Council welcomes the country’s commitment to European integration and “encourages it to step up its efforts to advance reforms.”
“The Council notes that North Macedonia has not yet completed the constitutional changes it has committed to. The Council confirms its readiness to convene a new intergovernmental conference, without further delay or new political decisions, once North Macedonia has fulfilled this obligation, in accordance with its internal procedures,” the document reads.
The document adds: “The Council is ready to open the first negotiating chapter as soon as possible, in line with the Negotiating Framework.”
EU member states are expected to unanimously adopt the draft conclusions on December 16 in Brussels. They are based on European Commission (EC) reports published earlier in November on the progress made by the countries.
In addition to North Macedonia, the text also applies to the other five countries of the Western Balkans (Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina), as well as Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, RSE reported.
In June 2022, North Macedonia accepted the so-called “French proposal,” which was approved by all EU member states. According to the Negotiating Framework for the start of negotiations between Skopje and the EU, Bulgarians must be included in the preamble to the Macedonian constitution and in all its parts relating to communities. North Macedonia must also comply with the 2017 Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation with Bulgaria, as well as the two protocols thereto.
In the remaining conclusions concerning North Macedonia, according to the draft document, the Council will emphasize the need for swift and decisive action to meet the criteria of the first cluster, “Fundamental Values.”
According to the document, the country must step up its efforts and carry out reforms “particularly in the area of the rule of law,” where the European Commission concluded in its report that no progress had been made in the past year.
“North Macedonia must protect the independence and integrity of the judiciary,” the conclusions note.
This includes reforms and strengthening of the Judicial Council in line with the 2023 recommendations and the opinion of the Venice Commission.
Both the EC and the Council will insist on stepping up the fight against corruption and organized crime in order to improve results through effective investigations, convictions, and asset confiscation in cases of high-level corruption.
“The Council calls on North Macedonia to adopt a new Criminal Code in line with EU legislation and international standards,” the draft conclusions say.
The new Penal Code, which according to the ECA has been announced several times recently, is expected to be adopted by the government and submitted to parliament by the end of the year. Among other things, it is expected to “correct” the amendments of September 2023, when penalties for abuse of office and powers were reduced, leading to the expiry of the statute of limitations in dozens of court cases.
In the draft conclusions, which are to be adopted in December, the Council is expected to welcome the country’s alignment with the EU on foreign policy and sanctions issues. Cooperation and border management with Frontex is also expected to be welcomed.
In other areas, the draft notes progress in public administration reform but stresses the need to continue modernization and ensure the necessary capacities.
In addition, a call should be made for “further strengthening of fundamental rights, including minority rights, media freedom, and freedom of expression.”
The European Council will emphasize the geostrategic importance of the Union’s enlargement, but also that progress must be based on merit and a credible process.
“The Council calls on all partners to seize the opportunity, seize the moment, and take all necessary steps to accelerate their progress towards the EU. In an increasingly unstable geopolitical context, with Russian aggression against Ukraine unfolding on our continent, the EU remains an anchor of peace, prosperity, and security,” the draft conclusions emphasize.
At the same time, it is noted that, in addition to the countries seeking EU membership, the Union itself must carry out internal reforms.
The EU’s ability to accept new members while maintaining the effectiveness of its functioning and development is an important factor in the common interest of both the Union and the candidates, the draft states.
The document with the proposed draft conclusions states that Ukraine and Moldova will be exempt from roaming charges from January 1, 2026, emphasizing that the Western Balkan countries should receive the same treatment in 2026.
“Ukraine and Moldova will join the ‘Roam Like at Home’ program from January 1, 2026, allowing their citizens to make calls to, from, and within the EU and the European Economic Area and to use mobile data without additional costs. The Western Balkan partners will do the same in 2026. The Council calls on the Commission to speed up work to achieve this goal,” the text reads.
The abolition of roaming with the EU was announced long ago. North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Timcho Muchunski announced such a measure for early 2026 during a meeting with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos in August this year.
The BGNES agency notes that on the eve of the document’s adoption in the RSM, an aggressive anti-European campaign has been observed. Members of the government, deputy prime ministers, including President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, who took the liberty of mocking the President of the European Commission in an interview, are participating in it.
Just two days ago, during a forum in Montenegro, Siljanovska made a completely incomprehensible statement about North Macedonia’s European integration, commenting on the Bulgarian constitution, and again accused the EU of not respecting values and applying double standards. There have also been numerous anti-European publications in all media outlets controlled by or close to the regime in Skopje. | BGNES