First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs Bekim Sali addressed today in Skopje the Third High-Level Parliamentary Conference dedicated to regional cooperation and the role of effective parliamentary oversight in advancing the European Union accession process.
In his address, Sali stressed that at a time when enlargement has regained strategic importance for Europe, the Western Balkan countries should use this renewed momentum to accelerate reforms and translate political commitments into measurable results.
He underlined that European integration cannot be driven by governments alone, as the democratic legitimacy, sustainability and credibility of the process also depend on the active involvement of parliaments.
According to Sali, effective parliamentary oversight is particularly important for monitoring the implementation of reforms and ensuring institutional transparency and accountability. Parliaments should actively monitor reform commitments, identify delays and ensure that public institutions deliver tangible results.
Minister Sali also emphasised the importance of broad political consensus on European integration, noting that the country’s European perspective should transcend electoral cycles and party interests.
Particular attention was given to parliamentary cooperation across the Western Balkans and parliamentary diplomacy as instruments for building mutual trust, exchanging experience and strengthening regional cooperation.
The Ministry for European Affairs remains firmly committed to transparent and structured cooperation with the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia.
“Our path towards the European Union will be stronger when it is supported by empowered parliaments, responsible institutions and well-informed citizens,” Minister Sali concluded.
