Skopje, 2 October 2025 (MIA) - The Prime Minister and the Government are seriously determined and interested in taking concrete steps to overcome the dispute with Bulgaria after the elections, said Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani at a joint press conference Thursday with his Finnish counterpart, Minister Joakim Strand.

Murtezani said there are already concrete ideas on how to do this but did not want to reveal them due to the election campaign, noting that they could be taken out of context.

“The Prime Minister has on several occasions publicly said that after the elections, i.e., with the beginning of the new year, concrete steps are expected to overcome the dispute with neighboring Bulgaria. I think currently, since we are in an election campaign, anything we say could be placed in a certain context and disrupt and harm the process. The main message and what really matters is that the Prime Minister and the Government are seriously determined and interested in taking concrete steps to overcome this issue after the elections,” Murtezani said.

At the press conference with his Finnish counterpart, Murtezani said the relations between the two countries have dynamism and continuity, as well as a future built on trust and shared European values.

At the meeting, the two ministers spoke about key topics for the future of the country and the region, with Murtezani informing Strand about the processes related to the Western Balkans’ Growth Plan, which, he said, is not just a financial facility but also a strategy that brings the country’s economy and institutions closer to the EU.

“With the adoption of the Reform Agenda, the Government obliged itself to implement fundamental reforms in the rule of law, public administration efficiency, digitization, and energy resilience. These are not abstract terms, but concrete steps that will bring a better quality of life for the citizens,” Murtezani said.

Minister Murtezani expressed his gratitude for the principled and consistent assistance provided by Finland, adding that Finnish experiences in several areas are exceptionally important for North Macedonia’s path to the EU.

“We highly value the role of Finnish experts in the implemented twinning projects and the readiness to expand this cooperation in new areas such as digital transformation, media, and innovations,” Murtezani said.

The Minister stressed that at the meeting they noted the enlargement process is more than just a technical process, being also a strategic investment in stability, security, and the economic growth of the entire region.

“We especially value Finland’s position, expressed publicly and consistently, that enlargement must be merit-based and that the benefits of integration are shared between the candidate states and the Union itself,” Murtezani underscored.

Photo: MIA