Skopje, 21 May 2026 (MIA) - There is a window of opportunity for the candidates for membership into the European Union, but it requires courage, political will, unity, and lots of reforms. This is worth doing, said the Swedish Ambassador to the country Ola Sohlström at a panel discussion in Parliament on Thursday.

At the discussion titled “The geopolitical dimension of EU enlargement and implications for the Western Balkans”, Sohlström said the country belongs in the European Union and the sacrifices and reforms to join it are worth doing.

“You will play a key role and we, as Sweden, are ready to support you. Our support for enlargement is already clear, and we are ready to back you,” Sohlström said. 
Swiss Deputy Ambassador Michal Harari said the Western Balkan region is of high strategic importance, but noted progress depends on the candidate countries themselves.

“The geopolitical developments are opening the door to the EU, but reforms will show whether it is entered,” Harari said.

Deputy Minister of European Affairs Viktorija Trajkov said the Government remains committed to the Reform Agenda with an emphasis on the rule of law, fight against corruption, public administration reform, and economic competitiveness.

“Our commitment to the EU is clear, sincere, and long-term. We are talking not only about membership, but about the Europeanization of society. Reforms cannot remain just a formal obligation; the citizens want to see a fight against corruption, justice, efficient institutions. This is precisely why we are focused on reforms,” Trajkov said. 

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Antonijo Miloshoski touched upon the recent proposal on enlargement made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, adding that it must be taken into account and the candidate countries should not remain inert toward the conclusion.

“No one is offering full-fledged membership on a silver platter – these two proposals show that within the EU they are aware the process isn’t easy, which is why they are putting forward a faster, but gradual accession to the EU,” Miloshoski said.

According to the leader of SDSM and chair of the National Council for European Integration, Venko Filipche, the country should seize the moment and adopt important decisions. He called on Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski to jointly adopt the constitutional amendments and share the responsibility.

“Let’s not miss out on this moment, we won’t have another chance, we will remain on the sidelines. If we don’t catch this train, it is possible the doors will remain closed for decades,” Filipche said. 

VMRO-DPMNE MP Ivanka Vasilevska said the issue of the Western Balkan’s integration into the EU is a fundamental one and that the integration of the region should be treated as preventive policy.

“There is a problem with the consistency of the European Union’s own policy. We must not allow European integration to become a process of negotiating on a political level about identity, language, or culture. When the criteria change depending on the political moment, trust in the process is lost,” Vasilevska said.

Photo: Screenshot