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The SEEU Rector, Prof. Dr. Zamir Dika, said that ‘we, who have not yet managed to enjoy the practical values of the EU, perhaps have more reasons to believe in those values’. He remarked that the unification of Europe within a great administrative, economic, customs and cultural framework, gives encouragement to others only when such things are implemented in substance and not just pro forma, which is not always the case for aspirant countries. "Although the structural reforms inspired by the Bologna process represented the pillar of regulation and organization of higher education institutions within a common European area, we must acknowledge that Macedonia, except at the formal level, cannot be said to have achieved significant progress in the field of higher education. However, the Bologna spirit has continued to foster, develop and build SEEU", noted Rector Dika.
The Deputy Prime-Minister for European Affairs, Dr. Arbër Ademi, said that since independence Macedonia has remained committed to the strategic priority of membership in Euro-Atlantic structures. "We do not consider any other alternative except full Euro-Atlantic integration. This is also the demand of about 72-3% of our population (according to recent opinion polls) from all ethnic and religious communities.... Unfortunately, over the past two and a half years, the country has been affected by a deep political crisis, which sparked tensions and culminated in the acts of violence in Parliament on April 27th," said Deputy Prime-Minister Ademi.
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. Willem Wouter Plomp, after talking about the history and conception of the formation of the EU, put special emphasis on recent and upcoming elections in the Netherlands, Germany and in France. He noted that, despite fears of the populist waves, Europe has emerged and is emerging even stronger and more united.
The timely and well-received lectures were followed by student questions about the current political situation in Macedonia and the European perspective of Macedonia.