Mrs. Eli Bojadjieska Ristovski:

I thank the committee for the invitation to address it today. It is a bit intimidating to be in a room full of men so I thank Senator Keogan for being here this morning. I am deeply honoured to sit in front of the members today to provide an update on the status of North Macedonia's European integration and to also have the opportunity to brief each other, because I believe this should be a two-way street, and to contribute to the wider strategic discussion on EU enlargement. Let me first express my gratitude for the continual interest and strong support of the Irish Parliament for EU enlargement. Ireland has always been a firm supporter of EU enlargement, not only in words but in deeds.

This meeting comes at the start of a brand new chapter for my country. Two months ago, on 19 July, the first Intergovernmental Conference with the EU took place. This was the opening phase of the accession negotiations with the EU and it provided long-sought recognition for the reforms the country has undertaken in the past years. Only last Friday, on 15 September, we saw the actual start of the screening process whereby EU experts have begun to examine EU laws and policies under Chapter 1, which concerns the fundamentals. This will not just be a technical exercise but one with a concrete impact on improving the quality of life of citizens.

My country has transformed many years of disappointments, obstacles and blockades into yet another opportunity to enable us to offer arguments, to offer persistence and to offer trust in good neighbourly relations, thus coming to a solution facilitating the start of the EU accession negotiations. This long-awaited chapter in our integration process, after 17 long years of being a candidate country and facing many challenges along the way, is an achievement that the citizens have long been deserving of. We have proven to be a European country. We have shown that we can build compromise and we do not play the zero-sum game. We are a multi-ethnic society, a model of consensual democracy, and we have a lot to share and to offer to the EU’s accommodating of diversity.

We strongly believe that the EU integration process will be an additional drive that will mobilise all stakeholders in the country. Working together, we are committed to our reform dossier. The enlargement has always been a substantive and cohesive factor in the country and an element of our society. Our place is in the EU. We have said many times that we are a reliable partner to the EU and its member states. We will continue to function in that way. Our aim is to be a positive example of the fastest EU integration, just as we had the fastest integration as a member country of NATO. In this respect, the Government made a strong commitment to advance on EU reforms, especially in the areas of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and organised crime, etc. On this road, we know we can count on the support of our Irish friends.

I will refer to two other elements which speak to our determination and commitment to the EU agenda. The first is the alignment with the EU's common foreign and security policy, CFSP. We are 100% aligned with the CFSP. We have shown that we can be a reliable and trusted partner in this troubled geopolitical context. We also have 100% compliance with the restrictive measures. This comes with a price. It has a socioeconomic impact, notably on energy. It is important for the EU to show it can involve the western Balkans and other partners when taking actions to mitigate the consequences of the war in Ukraine. I wish also to mention our growing regional co-operation, which has been significantly increased in recent years with our conciliatory approach to solving bilateral issues. We are taking a leading position in the context of the growing regional co-operation and would like to serve as a role model in contributing to strengthening regional stability. Our strong position is that regional initiatives should be complementary and should not interfere with the future EU negotiation processes. They should go together. It should be an inclusive process for all the counties in the region.

I hope that Ireland will remain on our side along the way, as it has been so far. On his most recent visit to Skopje on 4 July, the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, voiced Ireland's strong support and, most important, its deep understanding of the importance of preserving national identity and language while integrating into the EU. Ireland is best placed to understand and advocate for our position. EU membership brings opportunities to a country, be they economic, political or otherwise. We intend to follow that example and prove this premise true.