Von der Leyen advised Mickoski to request a bilateral meeting with Sofia

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen advised Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski to request a bilateral meeting with the Bulgarian side as a first step toward unblocking North Macedonia's EU accession process.

After their talks in Skopje, von der Leyen said an initial step has been agreed: Foreign Minister Musunski should try to meet Bulgaria's foreign minister, Velislava Petrova Chamova, during Chamova's visit next week. Von der Leyen did not say whether the EU will send a mediator to the talks, but stressed that the immediate aim is to unblock negotiations and then provide a roadmap for North Macedonia.

"First unblock, then a roadmap"

"We agreed to take one first new step next week and to try to unblock the process, actually to turn it into a process. That's the most important part. At the moment we unblock the situation here, in my view we can be swift with North Macedonia. Because you are already working intensively on the reforms that are necessary. Yes, there is still work to do, but what you have achieved is impressive and now we focus on unblocking the situation so that afterwards we can come with a roadmap for North Macedonia," said Ursula von der Leyen.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told TV24 that, following von der Leyen's suggestion, he has asked his foreign minister to send a diplomatic note requesting a bilateral meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart.

"I received advice from the President. Already next week our foreign minister is in Sofia; the reason is Corridor 8 and the projects we are advancing within that corridor. To ask the host for a bilateral meeting. I immediately asked the minister to send a diplomatic note and request time for a meeting with his colleague so we can start moving the process from somewhere," said Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski.

Von der Leyen also reiterated the Commission's message about constitutional changes, assuring that the EU will welcome North Macedonia's identity, language and culture. She praised the country's progress under the Growth Plan but noted that further reforms remain necessary. After meeting Mickoski, von der Leyen also held a one-on-one meeting with President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, closing her regional tour.

Photo: press material from the event