Skopje, 1 July 2025 (MIA) – Our country pursues the European journey with an open heart by accepting the European values, but we are fending off the blackmail that isn’t part of these values. We do not accept impositions masked as being the European process. Europe is the home of law, of justice and of dignity. These are the values we accept – everything else is foreign to the EU, it is foreign to us, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said at Tuesday’s joint news conference alongside EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos as part of the EU-Western Balkans Leaders’ Meeting, focused on the Growth Plan.

Macedonia at today’s Skopje summit participates as a country having clear direction, Mickoski said.

“Our reforms aren’t ornaments. They are a necessity. And we won’t wait for someone else to push us. We will push ourselves with our own will and with a concrete plan and clear vision. We’re delivering results not because someone asks us to do, but because our citizens deserve it. We’ll continue to follow the European values not because someone else tells us to, but because it is our choice, our path and our commitment. Thus, we are thankful for the support from the European Commission but we are even more determined to help ourselves, to implement reforms and to transform the country with investments, job creation all the while trusting our strength in partnership with the EU,” stressed Mickoski.

Today, he added, in Skopje we are hosts and partners and allies as well of a common vision about a region that is not defined by its problems but by its opportunities.

“A vision about a Western Balkans headed towards the European Union not with words, but with deeds, reforms, results and integration felt in the day-to-day lives of the citizens. The fact that we are hosting the leaders’ summit is a key symbolic conformation of our regional and European relevancy. It’s no coincidence. It comes as a result of the political capital invested in stability, reforms and constructive approach. This is a recognition of the role played by our country in building bridges and creating solutions,” said the prime minister.

Today’s talks, Micoski added, focused on the implementation of the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. This plan isn’t a formality for us, it is a tool aimed to transform the country, he noted.

“We’ll modernize public services, we’ll improve education, we’ll invest in energy and digital infrastructure. We’ll make the country European before formally being accepted in the EU,” PM Mickoski concluded.

Asked by a reporter how he had explained to Kos that three ministries are late with implementing key reforms from the reform agenda, Mickoski said he doesn’t agree that they are late. Implementation is over 75 percent, he responded saying the legislation will be completed soon.

“I wouldn’t say they are late, we have surpassed the 75-percent threshold mentioned by the Commissioner. Very soon, the commitments from the Growth Plan will be met soon,” stated the prime minister.

Photo: MIA