Siljanovska‑Davkova receives European Commission 2026 report, urges equal treatment and stronger EU engagement
The president and the EU ambassador agreed on tangible gains but stressed the need for stronger rule‑of‑law reforms and more active EU engagement to unblock accession.
President Gordana Siljanovska‑Davkova received the European Commission's progress report for 2026 from EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas at the presidential office in Skopje on Friday.
Progress recognised, but gaps remain in rule of law
During the meeting the two officials agreed that the past year produced concrete results and welcomed the report's recognition of North Macedonia as one of the countries that has most successfully implemented the Reform Agenda and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
Siljanovska‑Davkova highlighted areas of institutional strengthening and said the state has demonstrated capacities to meet European standards. She told the ambassador: "The increased level of preparedness in digital transformation, education, registered progress in science and research and the common foreign, security and defence policy testify to a manifested and proven institutional capacity of the state in meeting European standards."
Ambassador Rokas pointed to weaknesses identified in the report and stressed the need for intensified reforms in the rule of law, the judiciary and the fight against corruption. Rokas also noted that "This year there is greater progress than last year, but decisive fight against corruption is needed."
Siljanovska‑Davkova said she expects the finalisation of the roadmaps for the rule of law, the public administration reform and the Action Plan for minority protection to deliver visible improvements in the Cluster "Fundamentals".
The president criticised North Macedonia's omission from the group of frontrunner countries in the enlargement process and called for equal treatment of candidate states, objective assessments against the Copenhagen criteria and a more active engagement by EU institutions and member states to unblock the country's EU accession path. Within her constitutional remit, she added, she will continue to act as a reformer and support measures to strengthen democracy.
Photo: PRSM
