Athens, 10 April 2025 (MIA) – The EU enlargement in the Western Balkans is not only a necessity for the Union for economic and trade reasons, but also a necessity for the political and security stability of the European continent, stated Foreign Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski at the Delphi Economic Summit in Greece, emphasizing that there is a gap in the EU between promises and fulfilments, MIA’s Athens correspondent reported.

Mucunski spoke about the country’s EU perspective, relations with the US, and transatlantic cooperation, while he began his address by expressing gratitude to Greece and the Greek people for their assistance to our country following the tragic fire at the Kochani nightclub, a gesture that was met with applause from the audience.

Mucunski noted that 'the lives of several people were directly saved by the Greek doctors,' and spoke about his visit to the hospitals in Thessaloniki, where five injured people were hospitalized.

“What I can say is that the sincere solidarity shown by both the government and the people, as well as by the medical professionals, is something that will remain forever in the memory of my people, and I thank you for that,” he said.

The panel discussion was on the topic ‘Is the US-Europe Alliance Beyond Repair?’ and Mucunski noted that the US plays a significant role as an investor in political, security, and economic stability in the region.

He spoke about the threats and risks posed by China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran to the region.

“The danger of interaction between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea is something we have not taken seriously enough, and I say this from a political, security, as well as economic and trade perspective. These countries, according to the US government, would be considered as strategic competition and a strategic threat,” he pointed out, adding that in Europe, there are different approaches to how, for example, China is viewed.

In regard to NATO, he said that it is altering its approach on many issues and 'changing to become a stronger alliance, not a weaker one,' pointing out that the US invests in stability, but every country must show responsibility and identify threats from European, regional, and global perspectives.

Speaking about our European perspective, he reminded those present that this year marks 20 years since we obtained candidate status, yet negotiations have still not started, emphasizing that 'we are victims of bilateral criteria over and over again.'

He pointed out that the EU allows a vacuum to exist in the Western Balkans, due to 'the gap between commitments and delivery, or between promises made in our region and the lack of delivery,' which, according to the Minister, allows for the influence of certain actors such as Russia and China.

“The message we are sending to Brussels and the member states is that it is necessary to find a clear path for the Western Balkans to move forward and a way to close the gap between commitments, the numerous windows of opportunity promised to us in the past, a phrase often used, 'now is the opportunity, now is the momentum,' but the delivery from the European Union has always been lacking. From this perspective, what I can say is that one of the strongest tangible supporters of the European Union's enlargement has always been the United States, and this is something we need to keep in mind. Yes, the US is not a member of the EU, but the United States has an interest in the stability of the region,” Mucunski underlined.

On the sidelines of the Delphi Economic Forum, Mucunski had a meeting with his Greek counterpart, Giorgos Gerapetritis, who greeted him warmly, and the meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere.

Mucunski noted on social media that this meeting was a crucial step in boosting regional cooperation and advancing diplomatic relations.

The meeting highlighted mutual readiness and the need to further promote bilateral cooperation - through intensified political dialogue, priority connections in infrastructure and energy, as well as new dynamics in the economy, culture and tourism, Mucunski posted on Facebook.

In the press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, it is noted that both ministers highlighted their shared readiness and the need for further advancement of bilateral cooperation through intensified political dialogue, priority connections in the fields of infrastructure and energy, as well as a new dynamic in the economy, culture, and tourism.

Photo: MIA