North Macedoniareaffirms its European course and commitment to European Union membership, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski emphasised during his participation in the Western Balkans Summit within the Berlin Process, held in London.
In meetings with leaders of EU member states and key international institutions, Mickoski underlined that his country continues to implement reforms, strengthen its economy and security cooperation, while at the same time protecting its national interests and identity.
"The future of our country lies within the EU. Our task is to ensure progress at home, but also to promote Macedonia in international capitals, from Brussels to Washington," said Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, adding that European partners have sent a clear message - North Macedonia belongs to the European community.
During the Summit, Mickoski stressed that the domestic agenda remains a priority, but that the country must also assert its interests in international relations. "We must succeed at home, but also on the international stage - in London, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Washington, and other capitals of EU member states, as well as in talks with influential global powers. Our goal is to protect national interests and the interests of our citizens," the Prime Minister stated.
In London, Mickoski held a series of bilateral meetings with European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and King Charles III. Following numerous discussions, he emphasised that he remains optimistic, noting that it is crucial for the country to complete its domestic tasks - namely, implementing reforms.
"The message from our partners is clear: our country’s place is within the EU, as is the case for the entire Western Balkans region. The discussion with the German Chancellor was particularly inspiring and concrete - he clearly presented his vision for the region,” Mickoski revealed from the closed-door meeting, adding that the Chancellor had outlined clear guidelines and plans for the future of the region in the context of EU integration."
"North Macedonia is defending Europe from illegal migration"
Regarding illegal migration, he reiterated that the country’s position is clear.
"In practice, we are defending Europe from Europe, because migrants from EU member states are entering our country illegally. I presented this idea to Prime Minister Starmer – British experts, specialists, and even police and military officers are welcome to join our forces in protecting the south-eastern border, and in doing so, protecting Europe as well," explained Mickoski.
The Prime Minister also referred to the Memorandum of Understanding with the American-British consortium that will invest around 150 million US dollars in the construction of a factory within the defence industry, which will create several hundred to a thousand jobs.
"But this is just the beginning; the plan is to reach one billion dollars. It concerns the production of ammunition and weapons for the global market, standardised according to NATO criteria, and I expect the process to accelerate next year so that production can begin around 2027–2028," Mickoski underlined.
Economy and trade
In his bilateral meetings with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and EBRD Managing Director Odile Renaud-Basso, discussions focused on the European perspective, progress in reforms, the strengthening of economic and trade relations, and the further development of the country.
Mickoski described his stay in London as highly successful, highlighting the importance of international partnerships and the support of the EU and the United Kingdom, while stressing that North Macedonia remains committed to development, security, and European integration.
(EUpravo zato)
