Sali urges candidate countries' early inclusion in European Centre for Democratic Resilience

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs Bekim Sali told participants at a working breakfast on the sidelines of the EU General Affairs Council that candidate countries should be part of the European Centre for Democratic Resilience from the outset, the Ministry of European Affairs said.

Sali warned that foreign manipulation of information, cyberattacks and pressure on independent media and civil society are shared threats facing both EU member states and candidate countries. He argued that democratic resilience has become a core component of European security.

Why early inclusion matters

According to the ministry, Sali stressed that early participation would give North Macedonia faster access to European threat assessments, early-warning mechanisms, specialised expertise and operational networks. He said those tools are key for strengthening domestic defences against hybrid threats.

"Participation in the Centre would enable North Macedonia to have timely access to European threat assessments, early-warning mechanisms, expertise and operational networks. At the same time, it would strengthen capacities to counter disinformation, strategic communication and cyber security, as well as support for independent media and civil society, contributing to reforms in core areas of the accession process," the Ministry of European Affairs said.

The minister framed inclusion in the Centre as both a security measure and a support for reforms required in the accession process, noting that improved capacities against disinformation and cyber threats would complement institutional changes at home.

The statement from the ministry did not specify a timeline for North Macedonia's accession to the Centre, but underlined that integrating candidate countries into European resilience structures early would improve cooperation and operational readiness across the region.

Photo: press material from the event