Skopje, 25 February 2026 (MIA) - If the process is merit-based, North Macedonia and the other countries of the region deserve to become full-fledged members of the European Union, Hungary's special envoy for the Western Balkans Zsolt Bunford told journalists in Skopje on Wednesday. Bunford stressed that the country has been unfairly waiting at the EU’s gates for 20 years and that the EU accession process must be accelerated.

Bunford, after meeting in Parliament with Deputy Speaker Antonijo Miloshoski, said they discussed several issues related to the EU accession process.

“We spoke about many issues related to the EU accession process. Of course, we have heard many ideas such as the one about gradual integration or a guaranteed member state status without voting rights... What matters is to see that the countries of the region, including North Macedonia, should become full-fledged members of the EU. That’s all I can say at the moment. For us, it would be very important to accelerate this process and give the countries a chance to become EU members. If we are talking about a merit-based approach, then I think North Macedonia and the region deserve full-fledged membership,” Bunford told journalists. 

According to Bunford, Hungary and North Macedonia are fostering excellent bilateral relations, stressing that they are founded on a shared interest and trust.

“We have great interest in boosting our presence in the economic field of North Macedonia. We discussed concrete projects, issues of joint interest. We also voiced full support for North Macedonia’s EU accession. We think it is a parody that North Macedonia has been waiting more than twenty years. Now we are trying to do everything we can to accelerate this process. We also discussed regional issues. We are interested in the stability of the region, which is very important for us,” Bunford said.

Deputy Speaker Miloshoski said he shares Bunford’s view that bilateral relations are at an excellent level.

“Our bilateral relations are excellent, in a political sense of the word. What is also encouraging is that in terms of the potential investments and shared projects and trade there are also concrete projects that are already being realized and I think this will strengthen the trade and business ties between Macedonia and Hungary,” Miloshoski said. 

Miloshoski noted that they also discussed the country’s EU accession.

“Hungary is a country that fully supports the EU enlargement project, not only when it comes to Macedonia, but also the other countries in the region, which, unfortunately, have been waiting too long in this accession process, where certain promises were made as early as the 2003 Thessaloniki summit. Unfortunately, many of them are yet to be fulfilled,” Miloshoski said.

MIA file photo