Skopje, 10 July 2025 (MIA) - Maybe someone expected that after yesterday’s Report we would abandon negotiations in revolt, but we won’t act immaturely and irresponsibly. On the contrary, we will continue to work even harder and with more commitment, we will show that with our domestic reforms we are the best student in the class, and the “architects” who want to obstruct the country’s path to the European Union will not be able to do so, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told journalists Thursday.

“This was a precedent, an architecture that one EU member state is trying to create, and this will of course impact the Union’s image. The attempt was to completely rename the Macedonian identity and language by some MEPs who with their irresponsible behavior have tried to further define it as ‘contemporary’. This failed, since most MEPs saw through the intent, but the erasure of the Macedonian identity and language was successful,” Mickoski said when quizzed about the EP’s adoption of the Progress Report on the country without references to the Macedonian language and identity.

Regarding criticism by the opposition, Mickoski said the opposition has no credibility to judge. “This government,” he said, “has tried to restore a part of what has been lost and has partially succeeded”.

Mickoski reiterated that this shows the issue is bigger than the inclusion of the Bulgarian minority into the country’s Constitution.

“What is more important is that Europe, the world and the Macedonian citizens saw that the acceptance of the 2022 [French] Proposal isn’t just a simple change and intervention in the Preamble [of the Constitution] and the inclusion of the Bulgarian minority. The issue is much deeper, and it is the denial of the identity and the language of one of the smallest countries in Europe by Bulgaria. For me, this is an unprecedented act. It is anything but a European value,” Mickoski stressed.

The Prime Minister thanked the MEPs who voted against or abstained in the vote on the amendment erasing references to the Macedonian language and identity from the report.

“I can’t understand how the MEPs who voted yesterday to erase the Macedonian language and identity will be able to sleep peacefully. But I thank those 120 or so MEPs who voted against and the more than 100 who abstained in the vote,” Mickoski said.

The Prime Minister underscored the importance of unity from all parties in the country when it comes to national interests and advocating for them abroad, but, he said, he doesn’t expect this from SDSM.

“The government has a duty to the citizens, as well as to all others, to continue working on domestic reforms even harder and with even more commitment, while also trying to be even more vocal in articulating its arguments abroad and remain fully focused until we become a part of the European family,” Mickoski said. 

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