President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova met with Members of the European Parliament Dan Barna (Renew, Romania), Tijs Reuten (S&D, Netherlands), Matej Tonin (EPP, Slovenia) and Karlo Ressler (EPP, Croatia) at the European Parliament in Brussels.
The discussions focused on the current state of North Macedonia’s European integration process, the challenges facing the European Union’s enlargement policy, and possible ways to overcome the prolonged deadlock in accession negotiations.
Siljanovska-Davkova recalled that North Macedonia has held EU candidate status for 21 years and highlighted its continued commitment to European integration, supported by significant reforms.
She particularly emphasized the country’s full alignment with the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, describing it as confirmation of its clear geopolitical orientation and consistent support for European positions.
According to the president, political will for progress should not be expected only from candidate countries. The European Union itself must also demonstrate political commitment and find creative solutions to overcome the prolonged deadlock without questioning the Macedonian national and cultural identity.
The interlocutors agreed that North Macedonia belongs in the European Union, where it naturally belongs, despite the challenges along the way.
Several MEPs noted that their countries’ experiences demonstrate that the accession process can be lengthy and involve difficult conditions, with progress not always being adequately recognized.
