European Council President Michel Visits Skopje

According to European Council President Charles Michel, Macedonia’s fate is European. On Friday, at the joint press-conference in Skopje with President Stevo Pendarovski, he said he expected the 26 March meeting to see EU countries adjust a joint stand on the new methodology and manner of enlargement, as well as in terms of the need for a clear strategy for investments for the Western Balkans as support for the rule of law and fighting corruption. Michel added that he was aware of several positive aspects, including the name deal and the Skopje-Sofia treaty. Pendarovski expects the new methodology to be adjusted very soon. According to him, though the Public Prosecutor’s Office  law wasn’t discussed, it, despite not being a condition for the EU, should be adopted in order to prevent certain members from having arguments as a precondition for a potential blockade. The same day, Michel held a meeting also with caretaker PM Oliver Spasovski. On the second day of his visit, that is, on Saturday, he held separate meetings with SDSM leader Zoran Zaev and VMRO-DPMNE Hristijan Mickoski.