Cathedra Adenauer is a scientific and educational platform where students, experts and academics discuss and share their views on current topics related to the EU and the future enlargement of the Union.
The first lecture under the title “The European idea in the Western Balkans - an uncertain future?” was organized on 14 December at the University of Tourism and Management – Skopje.
The attendees were introduce to the topic by Davor Pasoski, on behalf of the KAS office in Skopje, and Katerina Jakimovska, on behalf of the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.
Ace Milenkovski, Rector of the University for Tourism and Management - Skopje (UTMS) emphasized the need for reforms and application of the European standards in the higher education, aiming to increase the quality and the competitiveness of the university graduates. This was followed up by Sashko Gramatnikovski, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism at the UTMS, who discussed the challenges in this area, providing several examples on possible improvements. Vasko Naumovski, Professor at the Faculty of Law "Iustinianus Primus" – Skopje, discussed the current state of affairs, including the bilateral disputes in the Balkans, the credibility of the EU in the region, as well as the foreign influences that might endanger the European values. The former Minister of Finance, Kiril Minoski gave a presentation on the economic developments, the fulfillment of the economic criteria for accession, as well as the general direction of the economies of the countries in the region. Jovan Andonovski, Associate Professor of Law at the University "Goce Delchev" – Shtip, spoke about the human rights in the Balkans, its relations with the EU accession process, and the overall political criteria for accession. Ivan Ivanov, Assistant Professor at the International Balkan University – Skopje, analyzed the global role of the EU, its relations with other entities, as well as the overlapping influences in the region. Moderator of the event was Aleksandar Spasenovski, Professor at the Faculty of Law "Iustinianus Primus" – Skopje.
The discussion was followed by questions and comments from the students and other experts present at the event.
The Second lecture under the title “Evaluating Chapters 23 and 24 - Progress without Start of the EU-Negotiations?” was organized on 17 December at the Faculty of Law at the University "Goce Delchev" in Stip.
The event was opened by Daniel Braun, Country representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Panos Tassiopoulos, Head of External Cooperation and Events at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies and Olga Koshevaliska, Dean of the Law Faculty at the University of Goce Delchev in Shtip.
In his address, Braun underlined that the blockade of Bulgaria is neither in Bulgarian interest, and bilateral issues should be solved within the EU. But this should not mean the end of the European path for North Macedonia. According to him, there are good laws and legislation processes in the country, but the challenge is their implementation in state and society.
Ana Nikodinovska Krstevska, Associate Professor of EU Law at the University "Goce Delchev" – Stip, analyzed the necessary steps to be taken in order to achieve better results in the chapters 23 and 24, including the reforms in the judiciary and the legislation. The former Ambassador to the EU, Andrej Lepavcov shared his views on the state of affairs in the judicial system, and the remarks given by the EU institutions in this area. Aleksandar Spasenovski, Professor at the Faculty of Law "Iustinianus Primus" – Skopje, discussed the relations between the state institutions in the country, in the context of European integration. Professor Vasko Naumovski gave an overview of the progress in fulfilling the accession criteria in the last decade, especially in areas covered by chapters 23 and 24. Boris Josifovski, Chief of Staff, Cabinet of the former President H.E. Gjorge Ivanov (2019-2019), explained the relations between the two chapters and the political developments, while the Lawyer Kosta Bogdanov from the Bogdanov & Bogdanov Law Firm, shared his experience in the area of human rights protection, the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as their implementation into the domestic legal system. The panel discussion was moderated by Jovan Andonovski, Associate Professor of Law at the University "Goce Delchev" - Stip.
Also at this event, students, media representatives and other present experts had the opportunity to share their views on the topics.
