Skopje, 30 July 2025 (MIA) - President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova met Wednesday with Irish Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne, exchanging opinions on bilateral relations and the European Union accession process.

Siljanovska Davkova said bilateral ties are friendly and have no open issues, highlighting the need to intensify high-level contacts, economic cooperation and trade exchange, the President's Office said in a press release.

Siljanovska Davkova thanked Byrne for Ireland's principled and continued support to the country's EU accession efforts. She recalled that 21 years from the formal application for Union membership that was submitted during the Irish Presidency, the process is stuck in the labyrinth of double standards.

The President expressed hope that Ireland would continue to promote a credible accession process based on merits during its EU Presidency in the second half of 2026.

In addition, she referred to the threat of bilateralizing the enlargement process and burdening it with issues related to identity and history, reads the press release.

Photo: President's Office