Skopje, 14 October 2025 (MIA) – Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski is set to welcome the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Skopje at 3:45 PM on Wednesday, the government said in a press release.

Mickoski and von der Leyen will hold a tête-à-tête meeting at 3:50 PM, which will be followed by a bilateral meeting at 4:05 PM. The two leaders are not scheduled to address the media after the meetings.

Earlier on Tuesday, speaking about von der Leyen’s visit to the country, Prime Minister Mickoski said he expects a reaffirmation of the position that full-fledged EU membership remains as the country's strategic goal, with hopes that the EU also delivers.

"I expect we will reaffirm the positions that full-fledged EU membership remains as our strategic goal. It seems that we have lost our dignity, bit by bit, on the EU accession path over the past 25 years. I hope the EU will also deliver so that we at least keep the dignity we have left, because we are no good for them as well if we don't have dignity, and this government does not intend to lose more of it," said Mickoski.

He also referred to the European Commission's announcements of opening AI factories in Macedonia and Serbia, noting this is a project promoted by the country's Ministry of Digital Transformation.

"This is good news for the Macedonian citizens because it will be the first time we use our domestic resources. We have been working on this with the two faculties of electrical and computer engineering, FEIT and FINKI, and it is something I am thrilled and happy about," said Mickoski and added the co-funded project is worth about EUR 5 million.

He said that Macedonian students and experts would be able to use EU resources through its own AI center.

Von der Leyen kicked off her three-day tour of the Western Balkans in Tirana, Albania on Monday.

During her stay in Skopje, she will meet President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi.

MIA file photo