Skopje, 11 September 2026 (MIA) – The two countries’ excellent relations and Slovakia’s continuing support of the European perspective of the country and the Western Balkans was the focal point of the meeting of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Affairs, Bekim Sali, with Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Juraj Blanar.

Sali in the meeting in Bratislava thanked Minister Blanar for the hospitality and his country’s continuing engagement in maintaining the enlargement policy high on EU’s agenda all the while noting Bratislava’s active role as part of the “Friends of the Western Balkans” group, the Ministry of European Affairs said Friday.

“The European future of North Macedonia is our strategic commitment and we remain fully committed to reforms and meeting the tasks stemming from the accession process. At the same time, it is vital that the process remains credible, predictable and merit-based with fulfilment of the agreed commitments being followed by progress,” said Sali. 

Talks also focused on the importance of good neighbourly relations and the need of bilateral issues being settled through dialogue, mutual understanding and respect all the while preserving the European and reform character of the accession process, said the press release.

North Macedonia, said Sali, remains committed to constructive dialogue with Bulgaria and to building sustainable good neighbourly relations and it is crucial that European process is able to provide predictability and certainty that fulfilment of the agreed commitments will pave the way toward the next stages in the negotiations. 

The ministers also discussed the gradual integration of the candidate countries in the EU’s policies and the single market, implementation of the Reform Agenda and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans as well as ways to boost bilateral cooperation and exchange of Slovakia’s experience in the EU integration process.

According to Sali, support from friendly countries and partners such as Slovakia is important for North Macedonia’s progress toward the EU and to maintain the credibility of the enlargement policy across the Western Balkans.  

Photo: Ministry of European Affairs