Skopje, 29 October 2025 (MIA) - President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, during her participation in the eighth Paris Peace Forum, addressed a session dedicated to young people and the European perspective of the Balkans. She underscored the essential importance of regional cooperation and called for understanding and dialogue, stressing that European integration cannot be a dictate, but a dialogue.

“Regional cooperation is of vital importance to me. We cannot escape our region, it is our destiny. That applies not only to those of us still waiting to become EU candidates or complete accession negotiations, but also to those already in the EU that are part of our region,” Siljanovska-Davkova said after the session, moderated by Michel Duclos from the Institut Montaigne.

During the session, Siljanovska-Davkova also spoke about the security situation in Europe, noting that the region must not be left in a geopolitical vacuum, and reaffirmed her position that EU enlargement is a matter of security, not merely expansion.

“What is strange is that in 2019 the rules of the game were changed in the middle of the game, which is unusual not only for sports competitions but also for political negotiations, as a new methodology was introduced,” Siljanovska-Davkova said.

According to her, it is in the interest of regional stability, regional democracy, and the European Union itself to view the region as a system of interconnected vessels and to take a bold step similar to that of 2004, to show innovation in creating final solutions for the so-called Western Balkans as an inseparable part of Europe.

Photo: Office of the President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova