Ljubljana, 18 May 2026 (MIA) - North Macedonia will be the host of the next meeting of the Brdo-Brijuni Process in October, which was to be held in Brijuni but was cancelled after an escalation of rhetoric between Croatia and Serbia.  

“I must say I understand why my colleague, [Croatian President] Zoran Milanović cancelled the already agreed meeting in Brijuni. Both of us, of course, began to think about where to find a solution. Everyone within the Brdo-Brijuni Process agrees that this is the only platform where all countries of the Western Balkans, together with Slovenia and Croatia, meet once a year to talk. And that is truly important,” said Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar at a joint press conference Monday with her Macedonian counterpart, President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, after their meeting in Ljubljana.

Pirc Musar said it hasn’t been decided which city in North Macedonia will host the summit, and stressed it will be held in October.

“We can’t organize it quickly now in May, so it will be in October, the exact dates will be announced later, this is up to the President,” Pirc Musar said.

The Slovenian President stressed it is important for the process to continue and for everyone to be present at the summit.

“That is truly important, and Kosovo and Serbia are also part of it. I believe that any reservations or problems on the side of the President will not exist, because it should take place in North Macedonia, and I think that is already a fact. Once again, I sincerely thank the President of North Macedonia for organizing this process,” Pirc Musar said.

In terms of content, she said, this process is extremely important.

“We sit down together and discuss issues that may not be the most problematic, politically the most difficult. We always try to find a topic that is close to us, and I believe that with the President of North Macedonia this year we will also find a topic that does not divide us, but unites us,” said the Slovenian President, adding that this does not mean that more difficult political topics are not discussed.

The Brdo-Brijuni process was initiated by Croatia and Slovenia in 2013. It brings together the countries of the Western Balkans along with Slovenia and Croatia.

Photo: President Siljanovska-Davkova's official Facebook page