Skopje, 17 June 2026 (MIA) – Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Wednesday that members of the European Parliament should endorse the amendment that excludes bilateral protocols as being a formal part of the negotiating framework with the EU.

“If Europe wants to maintain its credibility, it should fix the injustice inflicted on Macedonia. MEPs should endorse the amendment noting the benefits and the progress as well as the part in which protocols aren’t part of the negotiating framework. I encourage and call on the MEPs to stick to the European values defined by the EU founding fathers - Schuman, Adenauer and De Gasperi,” Mickoski told reporters. 

Unfortunately, he noted, sometimes we are to blame because in the past we had mediocre politicians that had done harm to the country.

“Now, the present generation, both here and in the European Parliament, is prepared to fix the damage,” Mickoski said. 

Regarding the criticism by Bulgarian lawmakers and President Iliana Iotova following the arson attack on Bulgarian diplomatic cars in Skopje, Mickoski reiterated that the government strongly condemns the incident.

A man was arrested right after the incident, he said.

“He is still being questioned; communication devices had been seized for investigators to see who he had been in contact with. I wouldn’t rush with the terms used by our eastern neighbor, but we strongly condemn the incident and we’ll act within the legal authorisation. I expect the case to be fully investigated as well as what preceded the incident,” PM Mickoski concluded. 

Photo: screenshot