Skopje, 3 July 2025 (MIA) - President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova addressed Thursday a working lunch with the ambassadors of member states of the European Union, held to mark the end of Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

According to the President’s Office, the meeting was also addressed by Polish Ambassador Mariusz Brymora and Danish Ambassador Pernille Dahler Kardel, whose country recently assumed the Presidency of the EU Council.

“Extending congratulations over the work accomplished during the Polish Presidency, at a time when the world faces geopolitical, security, and economic challenges, the President spoke about the challenges of the Macedonian integration path. Siljanovska-Davkova recalled the country’s two-decade journey since gaining candidate status, highlighting the unjust political obstacles that hinder progress and undermine public trust in the EU enlargement process. She pointed to recent public opinion research in the country that shows growing distrust in the enlargement policy, even among young people,” the President’s Office said in a press release. 

In her address the President cautioned about “the harm of bilateralization” noting that “irrational issues” related to identity or bilateral disputes should not hinder integration.

“Stressing that the lack of progress brings far-reaching risks and makes our region vulnerable, she assessed that undermining the stability of the Western Balkans also threatens the stability of Europe as a whole. European integration, according to the President, is not merely a political issue, but also a geopolitical and security necessity. Siljanovska-Davkova reaffirmed the request for the country to advance on the basis of merit, as any other candidate state,” the President’s Office said.

The President said it is encouraging that the Danish Presidency “recognizes that further EU enlargement is a geopolitical necessity”.

“She stressed that it is good that Denmark plans to lead the enlargement process through continued political dialogue and in accordance with the Copenhagen criteria and a merit-based approach,” the press release said.

Photo: Office of the President of the Republic of North Macedonia