Bratislava/Skopje – Peter Pellegrini, President of the Slovak Republic, has expressed concerns that the European Union is undermining public trust in North Macedonia by imposing new requirements for its accession. This statement followed his meeting with North Macedonia’s President, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, in Skopje. Pellegrini emphasized that EU integration should not be misused for “international disputes or political grievances,” according to a TASR correspondent.
“The European Union is risking the trust of the people in this region, and failing to show that the enlargement process remains active would be a significant error,” he asserted. Pellegrini highlighted the potential for North Macedonia to engage in “intensive negotiations” and implement necessary reforms to meet EU entry criteria in the coming years.
Slovakia firmly supports North Macedonia and is committed to assisting in the integration process.
He noted that the security of the Union is closely linked to its expansion and reaffirmed Slovakia’s unwavering support for North Macedonia, pledging assistance in the integration process “in every possible way.” Pellegrini elaborated that Slovakia is providing financial support for integration efforts through UNDP development projects and by contributing its diplomats and specialized experts to advisory teams in the EU accession negotiations.
Economic ties are also a focal point of cooperation. During the visit, State Secretary of the Slovak Ministry of Economy, Vladimír Šimoňák, signed a memorandum of economic cooperation with North Macedonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Timčo Mucunský.
The President emphasized that the EU accession process should strictly adhere to established criteria. “No nation should exploit this process to resolve its own issues, effectively holding another country hostage or using it as leverage by imposing additional conditions,” he stated.
Pellegrini expressed confidence that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would deliver a “clear signal” during her visit to Skopje on Wednesday (October 15) regarding the EU’s commitment to North Macedonia’s integration. “I hope she will provide a clear perspective on where your remarkable country belongs, as we believe it is part of the European Union family,” he remarked.
Gordana Siljanovska-Davková reiterated that the EU enlargement process should be exclusively based on meeting agreed-upon criteria, asserting that North Macedonia’s actions are “fully aligned with the Union’s requirements.”
The two-day official visit of the Slovak president to North Macedonia follows his recent trips to other Western Balkan nations, aimed at supporting the region’s candidate countries in their EU integration efforts. During the visit, he honored the legacy of notable Macedonian revolutionary and freedom fighter Goce Delčev in a commemorative act and met with Prime Minister Christijan Mickoski and Speaker of Parliament Afrim Gashi. (October 14)
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