The European Union risks losing the trust of the people of North Macedonia if it continues to impose new conditions on the country's accession to the EU, stated President Peter Pellegrini during his official visit to Skopje on Tuesday.
Following talks with North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Pellegrini said that EU integration shouldn't be used as a tool to settle "international scores or political disputes".
"The EU is gambling with the trust of the people in this region. If it fails to prove that the enlargement process is alive and credible, it will make a serious mistake," declared Pellegrini. He added that countries like North Macedonia are capable of negotiating accession chapters and implementing necessary reforms in the years ahead to meet EU-membership criteria.
The Slovak president argued that the security of the EU is closely tied to its enlargement. He reiterated that Slovakia firmly supports North Macedonia and will assist its integration efforts "in every possible way". This support includes financial aid via UN development programmes (UNDP), as well as Slovak diplomatic and expert participation in advisory teams during the country's EU accession talks.
Pellegrini also emphasised strengthening economic ties as a key part of bilateral cooperation. During the visit, Slovak Deputy Economy Minister Vladimir Simonak and North Macedonian Foreign and Trade Minister Timco Mucunski signed a memorandum of economic cooperation. Pellegrini noted that Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar is expected to visit North Macedonia early next year with a large business delegation in order to develop concrete projects.
The Slovak head of state stressed that the EU-accession process must be based solely on meeting established criteria. "No country should misuse the process to resolve its own national issues by holding your country hostage to ever more conditions," he said.
Pellegrini expressed hope that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is set to visit Skopje on Wednesday (October 15), will deliver a "clear signal" of the EU’s commitment to North Macedonia's membership path. "I hope she gives you a clear perspective tomorrow because we are convinced that your beautiful country belongs in the European Union family," he said.
President Siljanovska-Davkova echoed these views, stating that the enlargement process must be based strictly on meeting agreed criteria. She believes that North Macedonia’s current steps are "fully aligned with EU requirements".
"I'm glad we share the view that enlargement must be based on meeting the Copenhagen criteria — on performance and merit, without additional irrational political conditions," she said.
President Pellegrini's two-day official visit to North Macedonia follows recent visits to other Western Balkan states, with the overarching goal of supporting the region's EU-candidate countries. During the trip, he also paid tribute to Macedonian revolutionary and national hero Goce Delcev and met Prime Minister Christijan Mickoski and Parliamentary Speaker Afrim Gashi.
Source: TASR
