Siljanovska-Davkova tells von der Leyen that a bilateral dispute must not take precedence over Copenhagen criteria
The Macedonian president asked for equal treatment with Ukraine and Moldova and called for an Intergovernmental Conference and regular Stabilisation and Association Council meetings.
President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova met today with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and stressed that bilateral disputes should not be allowed to override the Copenhagen criteria that guide EU accession.
Siljanovska-Davkova thanked the European Union for its growing engagement with the Western Balkans and singled out von der Leyen’s personal role in trying to speed up regional integration. She argued that judging North Macedonia only by formal advancement lists misses two decisive elements: the country’s technical readiness and its geopolitical alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy.
In a passage quoted from the presidential press release, the president asked rhetorically: "The reason for Macedonia's absence from the company of the most successful, for her, is the giving of primacy to the imposed bilateral dispute over the Copenhagen criteria?!" She used the point to call for equal treatment with other countries that have been given negotiating momentum.
Calls for concrete steps
Siljanovska-Davkova also urged that an Intergovernmental Conference be convened under the new accession methodology and negotiating framework, and that the Stabilisation and Association Council meet regularly. She said such concrete, practical steps are necessary to deliver visible results for Macedonian citizens and to reinforce the country's reform drive.
According to the presidential statement, von der Leyen replied that North Macedonia belongs in the European Union and that the Commission will continue to support the country bilaterally on its reform and EU integration path, calling the reforms to date "impressive."
As the statement records, von der Leyen said: "Von der Leyen, stressing the necessity of unblocking our progress towards the EU, in the spirit of European values, expressed confidence that the Macedonian-Bulgarian dispute can be overcome through intensive and reciprocal meetings and dialogue, which should begin as soon as possible."
Photo: press material from the event
