Dr. Bujar Osmani:

Even though the principle should be individual, merit-based progress of candidates through what are known as the regatta principles, in reality, it is a system of connected vessels in which a situation in one country could affect the situation in other countries in the region. North Macedonia has become a litmus test for the credibility of the European idea in the region because of the extraordinary journey it has to go through. When in Serbia, Kosovo or Bosnia and Herzegovina, European officials would say they need to move on with difficult reforms because it would strengthen their EU perspective and usually the response was "look at the case of North Macedonia". It did everything, even changing the name of the country - which no one would do - for the sake of the process. Therefore, North Macedonia's file has influenced the dynamic in the region. What will happen with us will reflect the decision of others to move forward in the process. North Macedonia and Albania have been introduced as a couple in the process. A risk of that is not having progress in one of the files would endanger the progress of the other. There are open files in the region, one of which is Bosnia and Herzegovina, where I am going the day after tomorrow in my capacity as chairman-in-office, CiO, of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, to see if we can help in the process of state-building and reconciliation. Then, there is the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which will certainly be an impediment in the overall progress of the region if a solution is not found. North Macedonia plays an important regional role. I remind the committee that a Belgrade–Pristina dialogue took place in North Macedonia, which was a recognition and acknowledgment of our models and our new role as a regional contributor as a NATO member in the region.

On external influences, the Russian Federation has never offered an alternative to the region. However, by maintaining latent conflicts open and flaring, it maintains its leverage and influence. If we want to limit malign influences in the region, we need to close the open files, which means Serbia and Kosovo should continue to implement what was agreed in Ohrid, North Macedonia, and move ahead in the European process. NATO's open door policy should be maintained in the region. Three of six countries are now members of NATO, North Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro, and we must encourage other countries in the region to do so. What is most important is for the EU to realise the importance of its presence, credibility and enlargement policy. This is the only way to close the space for any kind of external influence in the region.