Skopje, 23 May 2025 (MIA) - High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, is paying an official visit to North Macedonia on Friday, as part of a three-day tour across the Western Balkans. Kallas will reaffirm the EU’s commitment to the region and deliver key messages on the Union’s foreign and security policy priorities.

During the visit, High Representative Kallas will meet with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and members of the Government, followed by a joint press conference with the Prime Minister. Later on, together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Timcho Mucunski, and the Minister of Defence, Vlado Misajlovski, Kallas will take part in the opening of the Security and Defence Dialogue between the EU and North Macedonia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Delegation of the EU in Skopje said in a press release.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the dialogue represents an important step in deepening cooperation between the Republic of North Macedonia and the European Union in the area of foreign and security policy, as well as in the country's further integration into the European security architecture. 

Further on, High Representative Kallas and the Minister of Defence, Misajlovski, will visit the Balkan Medical Task Force at the Ilinden barracks where they will meet with the members of the Balkan Medical Task Force Standing Organisation and will see some of the equipment acquired by BMTF with the support of the European Peace Facility. Kallas and Misajlovski will also address media on the spot to reflect on EU-North Macedonia cooperation in the area of defence and security.

Since 2023, the Council has adopted three bilateral support packages under the European Peace Facility (EPF) to strengthen the capacities of the Army of North Macedonia. With a total of EUR 38 million, the EPF is currently providing North Macedonia with military equipment and training in the field of logistics, engineering, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and electronic warfare, mobility, communication and information systems, medical and training equipment.

North Macedonia also benefits from EPF support in the framework of a regional assistance measure for the Balkan Medical Task Force, amounting to EUR 6 million for the provision of medical equipment and field hospitals.

The visit of EU foreign policy chief Kallas will conclude at Europe House, where she will engage in a discussion with a group of young people.  

This is Kallas' second visit to the region after her tour in Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina in early April.

Photo: MIA archive