Skopje, 10 February 2024 (MIA) — Germany's Social Democratic Party leader Lars Klingbeil in Skopje confirmed the excellent cooperation between North Macedonia and Germany and his country's position that North Macedonia and the Western Balkans should join the EU, bolstering its strength and stability, especially given the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Speaking at a joint press conference with SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski, SDP's Klingbeil said North Macedonia was making good progress on the EU path. "We want North Macedonia and the countries of the Western Balkans to join the EU. This is crucial in order to focus on prosperity, on growth, on creating new jobs," he said.

Klingbeil, who is on an official visit to the country, participated Friday in the panel discussion "Progressive Policies: Response to the challenges of Western Balkan countries," organized by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Skopje.

Regarding the panel, he said it had produced a lively debate. He added that he was here to strengthen the cooperation between political parties.

SDSM's Kovachevski said that North Macedonia needed the EU, but the European Union also needed us. 

"Europe can be stable and safe only if it is complete and united," he said, adding that the state needed social democratic policies, which "mean a European standard of living at home, they mean access to the European market, they mean continuing along the European path that brings progress."

According to Kovachevski, it is the collective responsibility of the progressive, social democratic forces in the country, the region, and Europe to work together for a stronger, united Europe.

"This is an extremely important moment in Macedonian history," he said. "We have a unique opportunity we should not miss, because missing it will mean another dark period for the country, stagnation and regression [and] complete isolation, with consequences far more serious than from the past decade's regime." mr/