Regarding the Berlin Process Summit in London, PM Hristijan Mickoski stated that EU integration had been the dominant topic at the meetings. At the meeting with French Minister Delegate for Europe Benjamin Haddad, Mickoski stated that he had presented Macedonia’s positions.
The PM also pointed out that the EU had to deliver in terms of a guarantee and that Bulgaria had to deliver in terms of respecting international law and European institutions, such as the European Court of Human Rights, integrating the Macedonian community into the frames of that country’s Ministerial Council on Minorities et cetera.
“Those are not additional conditions. That means partnership, that means good-neighbourly relations”, he emphasised.
However, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said on social media the door to EU membership was already open.
“The window for EU enlargement is now wide open. Today in London, we met our Western Balkan partners to deepen our cooperation on security, energy, economy. Enlarging the EU is a geostrategic investment in the security of whole Europe. Together we can get it over the line”, her post on X reads.
Nonetheless, in an interview with MTV1, the PM stated that he was optimistic, especially following the “inspiring” discussion with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Regarding the meeting, Mickoski didn’t present a lot of details, considering it had been held behind closed doors.
However, he added that Chancellor Merz had presented a very clear direction when it came to how he saw the region and what plans for its future in relation to EU integration were.
After the summit, Merz expressed support for the EU course of the Western Balkans, telling the representatives of the six countries they were welcome as members.
“We mutually treat ourselves as equal partners, which is no small feat in this region”, he noted.
Mickoski, regarding the EU path, emphasised that the homework remained most important.
“That’s what’s most important. Those are the reforms. We will be doing that in the period ahead”, the PM underlined, adding that Macedonia’s future was in the EU and that it would do everything within its power to achieve that, but also, at the same time, protect Macedonian interests.
Among the other topics in London was illegal migration. Mickoski stated that Macedonia’s stand was clear.
“We basically defend Europe against Europe because, realistically speaking, migrants illegally enter our country from EU members. I presented this idea before [UK] PM Keir Starmer, too, during the bilateral meeting, that British experts, British expertise, and even police officers, members of Britain’s Army would be welcome in order, together with our members, for us to protect the southern-eastern border against illegal migration and, that way, protect Europe, too. I presented our open invitation”, he underlined.
Commenting on the visit to London, SDSM, however, said the government had avoided saying whether something, and, if so, what, had been agreed in terms of admission of migrants and opening of migrant camps in Macedonia. VMRO-DPMNE, however, asked when SDSM would stop telling lies.