Skopje, 27 April 2026 (MIA) - What NATO does with its standards, the European Union should do with the Copenhagen criteria, said President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova in a statement to the media at the Krivolak army field where she attended the Distinguished Visitors Day of the Flash 26 military exercise.

Besides Siljanovska-Davkova, as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the event was also attended by Minister of Defense Vlado Misajlovski, Chief of General Staff Maj. Gen. Sashko Lafchiski and NATO Joint Force Command Naples representatives.

“With the presentation and with the highest grades for the light infantry unit we demonstrated that NATO has high standards for expertise, competency, readiness, and commitment. Our light infantry unit fully met these standards. But it doesn’t exist in isolation. I already said in my speech, the successful assessment demonstrates that the leadership of the army, the Defense Ministry, the highest army officials, but most of all the soldiers, are most deserving for our full compatibility with the armies in NATO,” Siljanovska-Davkova said.

The President also spoke about the process of assessing the Army’s compatibility.  

“When you are judged in accordance with concrete, high standards, there can be no improvisations – you either pass or don’t. My message is, what NATO does with its standards, the European Union should do with the Copenhagen criteria. If we are assessed in accordance with the Copenhagen criteria, I think we would receive different grades. In fact, if the high standards aren’t followed, if double standards are introduced, and if assessments aren’t based on the fulfillment of standards but instead on the demands and needs of the neighbors, then we have a serious problem,” she stressed.

Siljanovska-Davkova said standards should apply in all possible institutions, including the European Union.

“European standards within the EU, respect for the Copenhagen criteria, and, of course, equal nations and countries moving forward together. After all, we must align ourselves, to uphold the rule of law, the separation of powers, human freedoms and rights, in short, all the essential prerequisites for the proper European functioning of institutions. Now, the EU’s key documents require respect for national and cultural identities, as well as dignity and integrity. I repeat: compatibility with the standards is essential. It is no coincidence that within NATO we are highly profiled, even though we are a small country. I wish that, if we are measured by standards that apply to all, we can also prove our compatibility with European political systems and with the standards of the European Union,” President Siljanovska-Davkova stressed.

Photo: MIA