President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova addressed the working lunch with the ambassadors of the European Union member states in the country, on the occasion of the end of the Polish presidency of the Council of the EU.
The Polish Ambassador, Mariusz Brymora, and the Danish Ambassador, Pernille Dahler Kardel, whose country took over the presidency on 1 July this year, also addressed the audience.
Expressing congratulations on the work done during the Polish presidency, when the world is facing geopolitical, security and economic challenges, the President spoke about the challenges of the Macedonian integration path.
Siljanovska-Davkova recalled the two-decade Macedonian integration path since obtaining candidate status, the unfair political obstacles that hinder progress and undermine public trust in the EU enlargement process. She pointed to recent public opinion polls in the country showing increased distrust in the enlargement policy, even among young people.
The President warned of the harmfulness of bilateralization, pointing out that irrational issues related to identity or bilateral disputes should not hinder integration. Emphasizing that the stalemate carries far-reaching risks and makes our region vulnerable, she assessed that undermining the stability of the Western Balkans also threatens the stability of Europe as a whole. According to the President, European integration is not only a political issue, but also a geopolitical and security imperative.
Siljanovska-Davkova reaffirmed the demand for a merit-based movement forward, like any other candidate country. It is encouraging, according to her, that the Danish presidency recognizes that further enlargement of the EU is a geopolitical necessity. She emphasized that it is good that Denmark plans to lead the enlargement process through continuous political dialogue and in accordance with the Copenhagen criteria and a merit-based approach.
