Skopje, 16 February 2025 (MIA) – Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, who spoke at Sunday’s Munich Security Conference (MCS) event on the EU accession process of Balkan countries, said that the Macedonian EU path had started much earlier than Albania’s or even Croatia’s EU integration process, noting that “for us, the merit-based system is a fairy tale.”

“For us, the fairy tale has become a moving target. We are the victims of bilateralization – to be more precise – our accession to the EU is very complex. Instead of bringing Europe in the Balkans, we are bringing the Balkans in Europe. Unfortunately, there are EU member countries from the Balkans that had brought along bilateral disputes in Brussels rather than introducing Brussels values in the Balkans,” PM Mickoski said at the Munich Security Conference.

The name change wasn’t the only example of interference in internal affairs, he stressed, the government said in a press release.

“Let me remind you, there was also the flag change. Our commitment is to become part of the EU, undoubtedly. I’ve been hearing some comments here that there was a speech on day one by the US Vice President Vance and that this speech means major interference in internal affairs. Change of the name, change of the flag, change of the currency, what are those? Aren’t they considered interference in internal affairs? How long should we suffer from double standards? Here, we’re not talking about a merit-based system, we’re talking about bilateral disputes that should have nothing in common with European values,” Mickoski stated. 

He mentioned that his country has fully aligned its foreign and defense policy with the EU.

“We are in the top five countries that are the biggest donors to Ukraine per capita and we have met the target of 2% for defense spending. We have fully aligned with the requirements for foreign and defense policy. I have to mention this – when Russia attacks and denies the Ukrainian identity, which was mentioned by President Zelensky yesterday, we’re all loud, criticizing, we fight for the rights of the Ukrainian and against this unseen aggression. But when a parliament of an EU country attacks and denies the Macedonian identity and my Macedonian native language, then everyone falls silent,” Mickoski said concluding that Europe won’t be united without all European countries.

According to the PM, the process will end once all aspiring countries become part of the joint table with all other EU countries, said the press release. 

Photo: Government of the Republic of North Macedonia

Video: PM Hristijan Mickoski's Facebook profile