Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Chair and Vice Chair.

I thank Mrs. Bojadjieska Ristovski for being here this morning and for engaging with us. It is really appreciated.

I listened to Mrs. Bojadjieska Ristovski's responses to Senator Keogan. I note some of the opposition within her own country that it is still facing. We are the most pro-European member state. We have had lots of opposition over the past 50 years of membership. We have had political parties that have come full circle and have now seen the light but that opposed every referendum we have had in this country in terms of EU treaties. It has not been plain sailing for us either. We have had to do the same thing of winning the hearts and minds of our people and bringing people with us. Now there is beyond 90% support for the EU and Ireland's membership. If we have learned anything over the past number of years between Brexit and now the war in Ukraine, it is that we are stronger together and the more of us that are there, the stronger we are.

I very much look forward to Mrs. Bojadjieska Ristovski's country's accession to the European Union and to it becoming a fully-fledged member state. It will only strengthen the EU. North Macedonia will be a fantastic and reliable partner within the European Union. There are good things ahead.

Where are negotiations currently at? What timelines is North Macedonia aspiring to? What does North Macedonia hope to achieve? Mrs. Bojadjieska Ristovski mentioned wanting to be the fastest country to accede to the EU. What kind of timeframe have the North Macedonians set for themselves? To date, what has been the most challenging aspect of North Macedonia's accession journey with its engagements with the European Union? What has North Macedonia found difficult? If there was another country that was to go on that same journey, how would Mrs. Bojadjieska Ristovski advise it? What have been the biggest obstacles?