North Macedonia has long deserved EU membership but remains unable to begin accession negotiations for “artificial reasons”, PM Hristijan Mickoski said Thursday at the Berlin Process Summit in Montenegro.
“I expect strong messages in support of the Western Balkans’ integration into the EU, including Macedonia. My government remains strongly committed to the EU reform agenda and European integration, and we will continue working in that direction. We are living in very challenging times, perhaps among the most difficult this century. We are witnessing Russia’s war in Ukraine, the conflict involving Iran, financial market turmoil and protests across Europe. We must find a way out of these crises, particularly in Europe, and my government is firmly committed to contributing to that effort”, Mickoski said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Germany strongly supports EU membership for Western Balkan countries, but accelerating integration also depends on domestic reforms and political will.
“EU membership is what we want for you. You can count on Germany’s support, as well as my personal support. As the European Union, we have done our part, but you must do yours as well. Reforms and political will must come from you”, Merz said.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker sent a strong message, stating that bilateral disputes must not block the enlargement process. He called for the immediate, gradual integration of all six Western Balkan nations into the EU internal market, ending roaming with the EU, and joining SEPA. He added that there is no justification for the Western Balkans to be at a disadvantage compared to Ukraine or Moldova.