Tirana, 16 June 2025 (MIA) — The more united Europe is, the more resilient we will be to any challenges, President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova told a press conference Monday in Tirana, urging the region to boost "infrastructural, economic, energy and digital cooperation," to integrate the regional market into the European single market and accelerate reforms through the EU's Growth Plan.

"We have always been part of Europe not only geographically but also historically and culturally. It is time we became part of Europe politically. I don't call this reintegration, I call it reunification because it will not be complete without us," President Siljanovska Davkova said.

The press conference was held after the end of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the South-East European Cooperation Process. The Macedonian president was joined at the press conference by Albanian President Bajram Begaj and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev.

Congratulating Albania on the current SEECP chairpersonship-in-office and Bulgaria on the next chairpersonship-in-office, Siljanovska Davkova reiterated that the region's common European future required cooperation and solidarity. She also expressed deep gratitude for the solidarity shown after the tragic fire in Kochani.

"This solidarity should not remain an isolated gesture but become a key element in building a stable, secure and prosperous region – a foundation for change and not just a response to crises," she said.

Earlier Monday, the Macedonian president spoke at a session titled “Promoting Stability and Prosperity through Regional Cooperation and EU Integration."

During her remarks, she pointed out that in conditions of dramatic geopolitical changes, enlargement was an urgent geopolitical and security imperative for the European Union.

She also said regional EU member states should be drivers of enlargement and not a source of blockades undermining the bloc's credibility.

According to Siljanovska Davkova, the bilateralization of the integration process by Balkan neighbors by abusing the right of veto, identity conditioning and historical revisionism did not only slow down the process of European integration but also reinforced stereotypes that the Balkans were not ready for Europe.

"Instead of making the Balkans more European," she noted, "we are witnessing a dangerous trend of Balkanization of the European Union." She said this had to change, for everyone's sake. mr/