Skopje, 15 February 2026 (MIA) — The Macedonian membership in the European Union is not a handout but a well-deserved achievement, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told Macedonian Radio and Television in an interview that aired Sunday.

Speaking to the national broadcaster on the sidelines of the 62nd Munich Security Conference, Mickoski said the Macedonian government had highlighted the injustices the country had gone through in the European integration process and stressed that its EU membership was long overdue.

Recalling his Munich meetings, Mickoski said his government presented "our version of the story” wherever it went. 

"In general, we as the Macedonian government, wherever we go, we fight for what we believe in — and that is to tell our version of the story, which in our opinion is the truth," the PM said. 

"We tell them about all the challenges we, as a nation, as a state, have gone through in the past decades when it comes to the European integration process," he added.

Mickoski stressed that "for Macedonia, membership in the EU is not charity, but something it has long deserved."

"We point out all, let's call them, irregularities. We point out every injustice done to us, both as a nation and as a state, while at the same time highlighting that it is crucial not to tarnish the image and credibility of the EU itself," he said. 

"We sense that — and the Macedonian citizens feel the frustration and sense that — someone in the EU itself, not from the outside, but from within, seems to want to tarnish that image and that credibility," he said.

According to the PM, the Macedonian story is sad and challenging, but the nation always comes out on top.

"Wherever we go, we fight to tell the Macedonian story. It is sad, it is full of challenges, but you should know: Macedonia always wins. And it will be so in this case as well. No matter how long it takes, we will fight and be patient," Mickoski said.

Commenting on this year’s Munich conference, he said the messages from the United States were softer compared to last year's but the conclusion was the same: Europe and the US are partners and friends, but the responsibilities in that partnership and friendship need to be clearly defined.

"Last year, the messages coming from the US were more direct, perhaps. This year they were more convoluted, but the essence is the same. The essence is the same. We need to know who has what responsibility and vis-à-vis this responsibility, who controls the benefits of that responsibility," the PM said.

Speaking about the Joint Statement on a Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade with the US, Mickoski said it was about trade tariffs and not customs duties.

"These are not customs duties, which is very important to say for Macedonian citizens. These are trade tariffs," he said, adding that the tariff of 15% was the same tariff the EU had negotiated for itself. 

"Macedonia has gotten the same conditions, when it comes to the tariff level, as the EU itself has — 15% — and is the only country in Europe, outside the EU, that has negotiated this kind of an agreement with the US on a bilateral basis. The details still need to be agreed on. Now only the joint statement was agreed on, as a framework the agreement be based on," the PM said.

At the 62nd Munich Security Conference, Mickoski took part in the roundtable discussion "Open Door or Open End: Fulfilling the Promises for EU Enlargement" and met with European Council President Antonio Costa; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky; Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions of United States Ambassador Richard Grenell; Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof; American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch and Goldman Sachs Global Institute co-head Jared Cohen. mr/