Bled, 2 September 2025 (MIA) – EU enlargement shouldn’t be held hostage by bilateral disputes or by identity issues. If it is allowed, it risks bringing a country to a standstill and also the whole process losing its credibility, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski said in a working breakfast with the Western Balkans top diplomats and the special envoys on EU enlargement, held as part of the Bled Strategic Forum.

North Macedonia, he noted, remains committed to the European path working hard on reforms and implementing the EU Growth Plan and the enlargement process must be based on merits and clear criteria.

Mucunski underscored the key role of regional stability and Western Balkans’ integration into the EU saying that current global crises further increase the necessity of European cohesion, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade on Tuesday.

“In a world amid wars, security threats and economic shocks, the European Union and the Western Balkans need each other now more than ever. Our stability is European stability. Our progress is European progress,” stated Mucunski.

He highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and welcomed the role of the EU special envoys saying their engagement is key to maintain the attention on the region and to encourage practical solutions.

“We believe in dialogue, we believe in a compromise when it’s fair and mutual – and most of all, we believe in the vision of a united, stable and prosperous Europe with the Western Balkans at its core,” concluded Minister Mucunski.

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade