Skopje, 23 May 2025 (MIA) - The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, said Friday the European integration of the country remains a priority, noting that there is readiness for new approaches if the current process remains stuck.

At a joint press conference with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski in Skopje, quizzed whether the EU has a plan B for North Macedonia, Kallas said the focus remains on plan A.

“We are focusing on plan A, trying to make plan A work. Because when you are taking already plan B, then plan A is already out of the question. So, [I am] being very cryptic here, but what I want to say is that we still have hope that the plan A works, and we are working for this and if not then we will move into next phases,” Kallas said.

Regarding potential mechanisms to unblock the process, Kallas said Brussels is aware of the obstacles and is working to overcome them.

“First, it is clear that we want North Macedonia to really move on this path, and so we know that there are obstacles on the way, and we were discussing those as well, to find really mechanisms to overcome these obstacles,” she said.

Asked whether the “non-integration” of the Western Balkans poses a significant security risk, Kallas stressed the importance of integrating the entire region.

“If you look at the big picture, the world, then we clearly see these different big powers shifting – tectonic shifts. So, it is in our interest if you look at the map, because the Western Balkans is in Europe, that we are all fully integrated. The European Union is a peace project, and that also makes it possible to bring the tensions down in the Western Balkan region. I think it is definitely a security issue as well,” the EU’s High Representative said.

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