Skopje, 2 October 2025 (MIA) - President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova addressed Thursday a panel discussion themed "Security and Resilience - Traditional and New Threats" within the 7th meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), held in Copenhagen.

Referring to the war in Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East and transnational threats - organized crime, illegal migration, cyber attacks and abuse of artificial intelligence - as challenges for peace and stability in Europe, President Siljanovska Davkova said the country is making efforts to act in a constructive way in all aspects.

"Nevertheless, more needs to be done. Europe cannot be completely secure as long as the Western Balkans is out of the EU. Our vulnerable points are Europe's vulnerable points. In light of the war in Ukraine, EU cannot seriously claim that it is fighting abuse of information by foreign services, against hybrid threats and external interference while leaving out the Western Balkans. EU risks to fool itself if it talks about unity and resilience while leaving my country and the Western Balkans exposed to these threats," said Siljanovska Davkova.

We are aware, she added, that the EPC does not mean enlargement but inclusion, but inclusion must be result-oriented.

In addition, she said the European continent is not secure as long as the Western Balkans is out of the EU, whereas the European integration process must be based exclusively on the Copenhagen criteria.

"The most efficient way to protect the Western Balkans is to return to the accession based on credibility and merit, on the grounds of the Copenhagen criteria. This means to put an end to the bilateralization of integration, which reduces the resilience of the region and Europe. This should start with my country, because 20 years have passed since we received the candidate status. Despite the consistent implementation of reforms, unjustified political obstacles continue to hinder our progress and corrode public trust in enlargement," said Siljanovska Davkova.

On the country's EU integration path, the President said it is not logical that the EU defines itself as "Unity of Diversities" and promotes the respect of cultural, linguistic and national identities, "while asking from us to negotiate about our history, culture and language."

"The frequent constitutional changes inspired from abroad, 36 thus far, are a threat to the suspension of parliamentary democracy. This is not reform but sign of fragility. Despite these obstacles, European integration remains our biggest inspiration and strategic aspiration. Macedonian citizens want a European future. Our 100-percent alignment with EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, including the support to Ukraine, is a strategic and principled choice. Although not an EU member, we are ready to contribute to Europe's security architecture. We are fully prepared to open Cluster 1-Fundamentals, and we are already implementing the Reforn Agenda within the Growth Plan 2024-2027. As the Council President has said, the EU must break the armor of consensus if it wants to complete the reunification of Europe and become a geopolitical factor yet again," said Siljanovska Davkova.

Therefore, she concluded, if the EU wants to be a geopolitical union, it should not leave the Western Balkans in a geopolitical vacuum.

President Siljanovska Davkova also took part at the event hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, for promotion of the French initiative of a European Coalition against Drugs (ECAD).

In the discussion, Siljanovska Davkova noted that the unity of cartels should be countered by even firmer unity and cooperation among European countries, adding this is possible only through the Western Balkans' integration in the European Union, the President's Office said in a press release.

Photo: President's Office