"We say to them: Let's draw a new European path" - Mutsunski about the "French proposal plus"
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mutsunski, said in an interview for "360 degrees" on MRT 1 that the so-called "French preposition plus", which envisages the constitutional amendments to be implemented, but to enter into force at the end of the country's negotiation process for EU membership, can be achieved through the institutions of the Union, if it is seriously committed to us and the region.
"The French proposal plus is a complement to all that currently exists as a factual situation in such a way that we will be absolutely sure, without any doubt, that from the moment we start negotiations with the EU, that we will no longer have bilateralization of our access road. Which does not mean that a member state will not be able to block us in terms of non-delivery of reforms in the area of public finances, in terms of non-delivery of reforms in the area of the rule of law, but to stop these bilateral demands which more than 30 years are dragging us," Mutsunski said.
He added that the guarantee for such a proposal "is primarily sought through the institutions of the European Union, in a way that will have a serious commitment not only to us, but also to the region".
"And we think that in addition to the delayed application of the constitutional amendments, the application of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the establishment of a system between our country and the European institutions, can be a fair way forward, said the minister.
According to him, when there is a desire among the member states, a way will be found to convince a member that is causing a problem, if the issue is strategic. The question is, as he says, whether the EU is sincere in wanting to expand to the Western Balkans. Mutsunski "believes she is honest."
"We say to them: the path you have drawn harms us, it will harm you too, let us draw a new path. And not only that, but we also offer a logical solution... We are supporters of the concept that quick decisions in foreign policy bring good solutions. We saw how a previous government, after a few months of forming the Government, wanted to assert that it finds the most appropriate solutions in foreign policy, so it led us to this situation with protocols, with constitutional changes, with a million problems of a technical nature, with an alleged improvement of mutual relations, but then everything that was asked of them - they accepted. And now we are brought to such a situation that we need to take the work out of a very subordinate state to a situation where we have at least minimal dignity and integrity to move the country forward," Mutsunski said.