Warsaw – The Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mucunski, emphasized in Warsaw today the urgent need to bridge the gap between the expectations surrounding the EU enlargement process and its actual implementation. He noted a renewed enthusiasm for expansion within the European Union but stressed that tangible results are essential.
Mucunski stated that North Macedonia is committed to reforms and aligning with EU legislation, highlighting the importance of the Reform Agenda as part of the Growth Plan. However, he stressed that the country anticipates that both Brussels and the EU member states will honor the longstanding promises made to the Western Balkans.
He called for practical commitment to the enlargement process, arguing that the trend of bilateralizing the accession process for Western Balkan nations should come to an end. “We are now hearing about a clear perspective from the new Commission and member states, but it is time to move beyond words and into action,” he asserted.
This year marks a significant milestone, representing two decades since North Macedonia began its membership negotiations as a candidate country. Mucunski remarked, “If any country has suffered from unfair treatment and double standards, it is the one I represent here today.”
In light of the current geopolitical landscape, he stressed the importance of collaboration between candidate countries and EU member states to forge coherent strategies to address shared challenges. “I represent a candidate country fully aligned with common foreign and security policy, and I believe our decisions and challenges are collective,” he said.
Mucunski expressed satisfaction with the organization of the meeting and hopes that similar gatherings will continue in the future. During this working lunch session of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), ministers are expected to discuss European foreign and security policy challenges, particularly focusing on enhancing resilience to hybrid threats. (May 8, 2025)
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