Bekim Sali in Vienna: EU enlargement must bring visible benefits to citizens even before membership

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs Bekim Sali took part in the Western Balkans Conference in Vienna, at the invitation of the Austrian minister for Europe, Integration and Family, Klaudia Bauer, as Makfax reports.

In discussions on the future of the Western Balkans, Minister Sali stressed that the enlargement process must bring visible benefits to citizens even before membership. He placed special emphasis on young people and the need for more opportunities for education, vocational training, internships, scientific research and exchanges with European partners.

“For our young people, the European future must mean real opportunities to learn, to develop and to build their future in their own country,” Sali stressed, according to Makfax.

Speaking about gradual integration, the minister mentioned trade facilitation through the Green Corridors, participation in SEPA and digital cooperation as examples of the concrete benefits EU rapprochement can bring to citizens and companies. He underlined that broader participation in EU programs, policies and the single market must be based on clear criteria, implemented reforms and respect for the rule of law.

Minister Sali stressed that North Macedonia remains fully committed to reforms and EU membership. At the same time, he called for the enlargement process to remain fair and predictable, and for candidate countries’ progress to be assessed according to objective European criteria. In the end, Minister Sali thanked Austria for organizing the conference and for its continued support for the Western Balkans’ European perspective, Makfax reports.