site.btaNorth Macedonia's PM to "Work with EC through Various Institutional Channels to Find Dignified Solution for Continuation of Country's European Integration

North Macedonia's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said that "through various institutional channels" he intends to "work with the European Commission to find a dignified and in line with national interests" solution for the continuation of the country's EU integration path. 

Speaking at the annual conference of the VMRO-DPMNE youth organization, which was held over the weekend and broadcast on the party's web channel, Mickoski said that the separation of Albania and North Macedonia on the path to EU accession gave strength to Euroscepticism in the country, but the country's government "remains focused" on EU membership. 

"This process also requires understanding from the EU, which we expect to show the same faith in the European future of our region as we have in our own. [North] Macedonia and our citizens have provided too much and for too long have been held hostage to bilateral problems and demands. I am not looking for sympathy and excuses. I want respect for my people, and I do not accept dictatorship," Mickoski said, adding that he intends to include the opposition in "these processes".

A few days ago Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) chairman Venko Filipce called on the government of North Macedonia to initiate a parliamentary session to present its plan for the country's EU integration.

"When the time comes, we will not promise impossible things, but we will not fail to consult the opposition and seek support for our efforts. Next week I will send a letter in which I will confirm my unequivocal will for dialogue, reforms and finding a solution. I am available for ideas and dialogue, and this should be clear to all sceptics. The issue of isolation (of the country after the division of North Macedonia and Albania in terms of the European integration process) is more to do with fears. We will move forward whether anyone likes it or not", Mickoski said.    

On October 15, Albania will officially open the first cluster of negotiations with the EU, the EU permanent representatives decided on September 25. North Macedonia has to fulfil the condition for Bulgarians to be included in the country's Constitution for the second intergovernmental conference to be convened and the negotiating chapters to be opened.