Rokas: There is no other way to maintain peace, security and prosperity except by connecting all points in Europe

There is no other way to maintain our peace, security and prosperity, except by connecting all points in Europe, EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas said today on a panel discussion on « Shaping the Future-EU Integration as a driver of European Macedonia’s progress in Northern Macedonia, May 9.

Rokas spoke about the great importance of EU enlargement, especially in the context of the need for Europe’s greater unity following Russian military aggression against Ukraine.

– Russian aggression against Ukraine has created completely new perspectives, questioning a number of things, peace, security, stability. Previously, we had a Kovid pandemic, which in turn questioned our procurement system, our partnerships, and the question of expansion was at the top. There is no other way to maintain our peace, security and prosperity, except by connecting all points, filling all the holes and having a really creative approach – Rokas said.

He noted that the visits of the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, as well as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the country Kaya Kalas are evidence of the union’s commitment to our European integration. He noted that both Costa and Callas bravely stated that the country belongs to the European family and added that there is a strong will in Brussels to realize the process of European integration.

Rokas said that in the country, despite all obstacles, there is high support for the European integration process and added that there is no doubt that young people want to move forward and be part of the EU. He stressed that both sides should be invested in the realization of the goal. He also mentioned the reform agenda and the benefits that the country will have from it, stressing that it is necessary to make every effort to implement reforms, while at the same time working on other delicate issues.

– We as European institutions are needed together with the authorities, from all ascetic, with all sides to set up a real perspective. And that really happens with the reform agenda, it is a confirmation that this will be the country’s gradual integration into the European market, which is certainly not an alternative to EU accession, but all these reforms need to be implemented while all other delicate issues will continue to work – said EU Ambassador Rokas.