Drobnyak: North Macedonia can once again take the step towards the EU by working on the Reform Agenda

Skopje – North Macedonia can once again take a step forward by starting work on the reform agenda. The EU Agenda 2030 is active, and the country’s perspective for EU membership is real, achievable, and feasible, stated former chief negotiator for Croatia’s accession talks with the EU, Vladimir Drobnjak, during his address at today’s debate on the topic “Reforms as a Shared Responsibility: Building Consensus for North Macedonia’s EU Accession,” held in the Assembly in Skopje.

– The international order is changing, and the level of uncertainty has significantly increased. One might say that currently global institutions and multilateral systems are deteriorating, and we do not know what the future will look like. However, the EU remains on this strategic path and this strategic moment is stronger and more relevant than ever to offer both strength and protection at the same time. And this is what is most important for North Macedonia and the most crucial point. Considering that we have this uncertainty in the times we live in, everyone should understand that the national interest serves its purpose best when European solutions function, and the center of gravity for North Macedonia is not Skopje but Brussels and Washington, said Drobnjak.

According to him, EU enlargement is happening in a very complex environment influenced by the war in Ukraine, as well as the new American policy. He marked the situation with enlargement with three key terms – perspective, gap, and conditionality, along with the figure 2030. 

Drobnjak assessed that the citizens of the country should know that the perspective for the country’s EU membership is real, achievable, and feasible, which arises from EU documents. The gap, on the other hand, refers to the insufficient socio-economic convergence between EU and WB countries, for the rapid overcoming of which the Growth Plan and the adopted reform agenda should help – new tools specifically designed to reduce this gap.

The term conditionality, he adds, refers to the multiple conditions that the country must fulfill to become an EU member. He pointed out that this country is not the only one facing problems on its European path and highlighted the Croatian experience from the accession negotiations with the EU – cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, the issue of the maritime border with Italy, and the entire package of border issues with Slovenia. 

The figure 2030, said Drobnjak, shows that the EU remains ready for enlargement, meaning that a significant enlargement is expected by 2030, but also that the Union has internal reforms and the multiannual financial framework for 2028 – 2034 to work on. For North Macedonia, he emphasized that in the absence of a formal start to accession negotiations, the Reform Agenda is the most important tool available and that it can utilize. (April 22, 2025)