North Macedonia – Meeting between Amélie de Montchalin and the deputy prime minister and the minister of foreign affairs of North Macedonia (13 February 2020)

Amélie de Montchalin, Minister of State for European Affairs, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, received Bujar Osmani, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs of North Macedonia and Nikola Dimitrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on February 13.

Their discussions focused on EU enlargement, specifically the European Commission’s notice of the reform of the adhesion process published on February 5. The minister confirmed that this proposal was a step toward the paradigm change desired by France and several other member states, with the aim of making the adhesion process more credible, more demanding, and more reversible. Ms. de Montchalin reiterated that France would remain vigilant with respect to the application of the reform and maintaining its level of ambition. In addition, she noted that France’s expectations also extended to the status of the rule of law in North Macedonia, especially judicial reform, in line with the conditions established by the conclusions of the Council of June 2018.