Skopje, 19 February 2026 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski says there is an option of European Union membership but without the right to vote that might materialize in 2027 as part of the scenario related to the Ukraine peace plan.

"There is an idea that is getting traction in Brussels and one that takes into account the Ukraine peace plan, in which the country's EU integration would be fast-tracked, with the objective of future reconstruction. This would be unprincipled towards the Western Balkans and there are two scenarios for this. It is good that we are part of both scenarios. The first scenario is Ukraine, together with Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia, to join the EU at the beginning of 2027, but without the right to vote, meaning to take part in the activities of the Council, Commission, all bodies and related control mechanisms," PM Mickoski told Kanal 5.

He adds there are two mandatory criteria - the common foreign and security policy and the rule of law. Asked if the constitutional changes are part of the requirements, the PM assumes "yes, because it was accepted by the previous authorities."

"This integration would take place in 2027. The second option is for other countries in the region to join as well - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and Moldova," says Mickoski.

According to him, "this is heard in Brussels and Munich," but depends on many parameters, starting from the Ukraine peace plan, the consensus over a possible peace deal etc.

"The world is changing rapidly and will continue to change, and we have to be wise, anticipate those changes and adapt," says Mickoski.

The PM said the Government would work on a solution to get the Euro-integration process unstuck, but not under pressure.

"We will be absolutely proactive in this process, offer and seek solutions, because what the previous authorities accepted and inherited is not a solution, and most of the Macedonian citizens don't accept it. If it took decades to reach the Bled Treaty right after World War II and Macedonians on the other side of the border to receive cultural autonomy with the right to join the former Yugoslav federation, if it took decades for Bulgaria to wait for (former PMs Zoran) Zaev and (Dimitar) Kovachevski to accept the so-called French proposal, then maybe we will need decades to get some fair and decent solution that preserves the dignity and identity, while on the other hand offering a predictable process towards the future. We will work on a solution but not under pressure. We will not work on a solution that leads us to the next obstacle. I have said on many occasions that this is unacceptable. Arguments are on our side, our arguments are germinating and getting their shape within the international community. They are seeing what is happening but there is still, regretfully, a rule that says - one vote," says Mickoski.

He adds that European Parliament Rapporteur Thomas Waitz says the constitutional changes should be adopted but not urgently.

"We all know this, we cannot ignore the elephant that someone brought into the room. But there are other aspects we look at so that we reach a compromise that is beneficial for all stakeholders. I believe that all former governments accepted compromises at the expense of the Macedonian identity and the country's future because they were promised that the goal would be achieved. They failed because there was always a 'but'," says Mickoski.

Asked if he would work on a consensus with SDSM leader Venko Filipche, the PM notes that the head of the opposition has said he would change the constitution tomorrow.

"When our positions are so different, there is no way for consensus. SDSM and its leadership is the soft tissue of the Macedonian identity," says Mickoski.

MIA file photo