Skopje, 23 January 2025 (MIA) - As EU delegation we will focus on assisting North Macedonia deliver reforms, however there is great momentum in the enlargement process which you should grasp, said the European Union’s Ambassador to North Macedonia, Michalis Rokas, while on a visit to Kumanovo on Thursday.

“There is a new Government in Bulgaria, and we already saw the congratulatory messages and exchanges, this is very welcome. From our side, as EU delegation, we focus on assisting the country to implement reforms. As I said before, there is momentum, great momentum and great opportunity in the enlargement process,” Rokas said in answer to a journalist's question on whether North Macedonia and Bulgaria are expected to negotiate a potential solution to the issue between the two countries following the election of a new Government in Bulgaria and whether the EU would play the role of mediator in such a process.

The Ambassador noted that there is “intense diplomatic activity” in regard to the country’s Euro-integrations.

“Already the Prime Minister was twice in Brussels at the EU headquarters in December, so there is intense diplomatic activity, but what we try to do here is while this diplomatic activity is ongoing and is assisting in overcoming this problem and moving ahead, we are focusing on delivering on the reforms and especially the reform agenda that was approved by the Government,” he stressed.  

In terms of the expectations for the Western Balkans following the inauguration of the new administration in the United States, Rokas said any initiative that would progress the path to the EU is welcome.

“It’s not for me to comment on the visit of the Prime Minister to the US, but the US is a very important contributor and partner to the country and of course any initiative that would come from either side of the Atlantic in order to progress the country’s accession to the EU is welcome,” the EU Ambassador said.