Skopje, 8 July 2025 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told journalists Tuesday he regrets that in the 21st century, there are “Taliban-like” efforts in the European Parliament to remove the Macedonian identity and language from the Report on the country’s progress, which, he said, are being referenced for the first time in the past 35 years.  

However, the Prime Minister said it is “good that the citizens can finally see the results of the previous government’s policies”.

“The 2022 adventure mainly inspired by Bujar Osmani and backed by politically ignorant people such as Kovachevski and Marichikj is getting its culmination and the citizens can see what is going on,” Mickoski said.

The Prime Minister stressed he believes the amendment proposing the erasure of the phrase “Macedonian language and identity” from the Report will not receive the backing of many MEPs.

“A lot of MEPs are calling and saying they won’t vote for that amendment, which will be submitted by someone who, in a Taliban-like manner, intends to erase the reference to the Macedonian identity and the Macedonian language from the Report, which have never appeared before in any report the past 35 years. Additionally, I also don’t believe the shadow rapporteurs will back this amendment,” Mickoski said in response to a question over the European Parliament’s vote on the Report expected to take place on Wednesday.

He voiced his regret that in 21st century Europe there are MEPs who would dispute the identity of a people in Europe and “push to make their native tongue a sticking point in the European Parliament”, which, he said, “should be the cradle of democracy in which human rights are respected”.