Von der Leyen: North Macedonia belongs in the EU; launches deblockade initiative with Prime Minister Mickoski

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski announced on 2 October 2026 a joint initiative aimed at unblocking talks between Skopje and Sofia so that the country can move forward in its EU accession process.

At a joint press conference in the Government building in Skopje, Mickoski said he had taken Von der Leyen’s advice and would ask for a bilateral meeting with the Bulgarian side next week.

Steps toward restarting talks

“From the President I received the advice that next week our minister of foreign affairs (Timcho Mucunski) will be in Sofia and that we should immediately request a bilateral meeting. I asked the minister to send a diplomatic note and to request a meeting, so that we can start moving the process from somewhere,” Mickoski said.

Von der Leyen confirmed an agreement to try to open a new phase in the stalled process. “We agreed to take a new step and try to deblock the process next week. Once we deblock the situation, we can move very fast with North Macedonia. What has been achieved so far with the reforms is impressive,” she said.

The Commission President stressed that North Macedonia has shown the political will to make difficult decisions and pointed to the example of the Prespa Agreement. “The Prespa Agreement was a moment of political courage. It opened the door to NATO membership and today North Macedonia is a valued ally. Similarly, in the European Union we are building our security together,” von der Leyen said. She added: “This is the North Macedonia we know, a country that keeps its word and belongs at the table in the European Union. My message is clear: you belong to us.”

Von der Leyen also outlined concrete elements of integration: accession negotiations began in 2022, the screening process was completed in less than a year, and one key step remains to open the first cluster — Fundamentals. “I know how sensitive this is, but I want to be clear. We will welcome North Macedonia with its identity and language. We believe that Macedonian culture and the Macedonian language can enrich our Union,” she said. She noted financial support already disbursed — €140 million — and further payments expected in the coming weeks, plus steps such as SEPA accession and talks on reducing roaming charges. She also mentioned integration into the new AI centre “Vezilka” as an example of gradual alignment with EU policies and markets.

Mickoski asked the European Union to help create conditions for a sustainable European solution in relations with Bulgaria. “We are not asking the Union to take sides. We ask it to help create conditions for a sustainable European solution in which what is agreed will be clear, obligations will apply to everyone, and the accession process will not be reopened to new bilateral conditionalities,” he said, reiterating North Macedonia’s strategic commitment to EU membership and a domestic reform agenda covering rule of law, public administration, the business climate, digitalisation and education.

Photo: press material from the event