Waitz in Skopje: clean air, rule of law and good living conditions — prerequisites for EU progress

SKOPJE – Austrian MEP Thomas Waitz declared in Skopje that North Macedonia’s progress is necessary for the country itself, not only for the path to membership in the European Union. He spoke at the Citizens’ Forum “North Macedonia and the future of Europe: Citizens at the heart of EU enlargement”, organized by the European Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group, in cooperation with the Assembly of North Macedonia.

“I think you need progress, your country needs it,” Waitz said, stressing that the country must develop as a modern, democratic and well-organized society — regardless of whether one day it joins the EU or not.

Among the main topics he listed were clean air and environmental protection, wild landfills, recycling, wastewater treatment, mining, forestry and the rule of law. The MEP warned that citizens will seek a better life elsewhere if their country does not offer it to them.

Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Afrim Gashi stressed that EU membership is a clear strategic, above-party commitment, and that the European agenda must become a citizens’ agenda. Slovak MEP Branislav Ondruš noted the change of the EU Delegation’s slogan, from “EU for you” to “EU with you”, Libertas reports.