Filipche: The EU’s expansion is increasingly becoming a question of the utmost geopolitical significance

Brussels – We need a comprehensive social democratic agenda for the enlargement process, as it is not just a mechanical adjustment or administrative enforcement of membership criteria, but increasingly becomes a matter of utmost political and geopolitical significance, said the leader of SDSM, Venko Filipche, in his address at the panel “Practical Support for EU Accession Preparations” during the conference organized by the “Willy Brandt” program for EU enlargement of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) held in Brussels.

– In these transformative times, the social democratic response is not only relevant but also urgently necessary based on principles and timelines for social and political adaptation, which will ensure that no one is left behind and will prioritize transatlantic cooperation, digital humanism, social equality, and democratic integrity, said Filipche, adding that in the context of dynamic geopolitical shifts, the imperative to protect democracy and security and for a social democratic approach in transatlantic cooperation becomes complex and essential. 

This, according to him, is nowhere more vital than in the Balkan region and in our country, which, as he said, is at a crossroads between European integration and contemporary geopolitical events. 

Filipche emphasized that the Party of European Socialists and the Group of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament need to develop their own social democratic agenda for enlargement, which will set clear red lines based on social democratic standards for meeting membership criteria. 

– Additionally, we as social democrats must realize that the deadlock in the European integration of each candidate country is not a technical or administrative issue. The deadlock only strengthens authoritarian tendencies and amplifies right-wing and far-right political forces, harming the democratic development of these countries, Filipche emphasized. 

From there, according to him, it is now time for social democrats to advocate for strengthening the accession process, which has long been a hostage to inertia and a lack of vision. 

– In politics, there is no empty space. If European social democrats do not fill the existing vacuum, then anti-democratic and anti-European forces will do so, Filipche emphasized. 

According to him, North Macedonia is an example of a lack of strategy and progress in European integration due to the bilateralization of the accession process through the demands set by Bulgaria, which contributes to the radicalization of the political situation in the country, significantly strengthening nationalist political forces and increasing Euroscepticism among the population. 

– Such a development of events not only harms the process of Euro-integration in my country but also opens the door to malign influence from third actors outside the region, such as Russia. North Macedonia is now facing a bizarre situation with the so-called self-imposed veto, as the new government refuses to implement constitutional changes to continue the accession process, said Filipche. (April 8, 2025)