Progress in Western Balkans integration, but only Montenegro named with a possible date

Austria's ambassador to North Macedonia, Martin Pamer, said there is measurable progress in the Western Balkans' EU integration, but he named only Montenegro when asked about a concrete accession date. His remarks came as Montenegro faces requests from several EU member states, including Croatia, to pause the opening of negotiating clusters.

Can Skopje keep pace?

Pamer stressed that North Macedonia is following a positive trajectory under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, yet he stopped short of projecting a membership timetable for Skopje.

Domestically, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has proposed that EU representatives be included in bilateral negotiations with Bulgaria. The move is intended to bring outside facilitation to a process that some political actors in the country view as beyond the government's current capacity to unblock.

Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos framed the moment as historically significant, comparing the present trajectory to the period before the EU’s major eastward enlargement. She delivered a direct message to both Skopje and Sofia: North Macedonia should implement the agreed measures, and once constitutional amendments are completed, Bulgaria should back the continuation of the accession process.

At the end of the month, these messages are expected to be conveyed in person to Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her visit to the country.

Photo: press material from the event