EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas meets Chamber of Commerce to discuss faster economic integration

The Chamber of Commerce of North Macedonia hosted a joint meeting of its Management Board and the Business Club Europe with H.E. Michalis Rokas, EU Ambassador to North Macedonia, to discuss the European perspective for the country's economy.

Branko Azeski, president of the Chamber, underlined that the Macedonian economy is small, open and deeply connected to the European Union, a fact reflected in trade and investment statistics. He told attendees that European integration for Macedonian business is not a political option but “an economic and development necessity.”

Azeski urged faster, practical integration before formal membership, arguing that companies already operate within European value chains, export to EU markets and apply EU standards. He called on the Chamber to serve as a bridge to EU institutions by delivering targeted preparation and training for companies, with support from the EU Delegation, so firms can meet single-market requirements.

Ambassador: reforms and gradual market access

Ambassador Michalis Rokas stressed the need to continue reforms and align with EU standards, with active involvement from the business community. He drew attention to an upcoming report scheduled for publication on 30.09.2026 that will outline opportunities for gradual integration and access to the EU single market for candidate countries, and to possibilities that could open up for North Macedonia if it maintains the pace of implementing commitments under the Reform Agenda.

Gligor Cvetanov, president of Business Club Europe, said companies are willing to work toward full alignment with the EU single market but face specific problems stemming from the current status: firms in North Macedonia must meet many of the same obligations as EU-based companies while lacking access to certain EU advantages, such as structural and cohesion funds or EU-level free trade agreements. He therefore reiterated the importance of economic integration ahead of membership.

In the discussion that followed, board members and Business Club Europe participants exchanged views with Ambassador Rokas on priority issues for companies cooperating with the EU, steps that could help “unblock” accession talks, and the central role of rule of law as a precondition for accelerated integration and for creating competitive conditions for Macedonian firms. The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the need for continuous dialogue and deeper cooperation on areas of common interest.

Photo: press material from the event