Northern Macedonia Prime Minister Hristian Mickoski has declared that the country remains committed to European integration and strengthening co-operation with European leaders, stressing that it expects progress in the reforms realised to be assessed and that the country will be able to start negotiations for membership in the European Union.
After attending the Berlin Process Summit, Mickoski said that important messages for the European perspective of the Western Balkans were delivered during the meeting, and the need for the region to become part of the European Union was confirmed as soon as possible.
He stressed that North Macedonia has already harmonised its foreign and defence policy with the EU, while advancing even in implementing the reform agenda.
I expect all of this that I’m talking about to be assessed in a very near future and given the opportunity to finally start the negotiations process, Mickoski said, adding that gradual integration should not be a substitute for full membership in the European Union.
Speaking of the blockade of negotiations and constitutional changes, the prime minister criticised the former LSDM and DUI government, naming the deal reached at the time as a burden the current government must bear.
Mickoski reiterated that his government would not give up either European integration or protection of Macedonian national interests. He demanded that an agreement for the action plan for minorities be reached in advance, which, according to him, should be acceptable to all 27 EU member states.
The prime minister also spoke of global challenges, warning that the next two years may be particularly difficult for Europe and the world because of the energy crisis and war in Ukraine.