“We fully support North Macedonia on its path to the EU. You can count on us. The next and only step before the start of negotiations is clear. You must make the agreed constitutional change. The ball is in your court. The EU is ready“, wrote EC President Ursula von der Leyen on the "Ex" platform after their meetings in Skopje, as part of their Balkan tour, the media in North Macedonia reported, BTA writes.
The government press center of North Macedonia informed in a short statement about the visit of the President of the European Commission to the country.
At her meeting with the country's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, “the European perspective, the progress of the reform processes, economic cooperation, energy security and digital transformation” were discussed, and Mickoski emphasized “the government's determination to accelerate the country's European integration through concrete results and implementation of European standards”.
”He pointed out that the country expects a clear and concrete commitment from the European Union, as a confirmation of the European perspective and support for citizens who have remained committed to European values for decades. The visit of the President of the European Commission is a confirmation of the open dialogue and mutual readiness to deepen the partnership in the interest of stability, economic development and the European future of the country,” the statement said.
In Skopje, Von der Leyen also met with the country's President Gordana Siljanovska, as well as with the Speaker of the Parliament Afrim Gashi.
North Macedonia is the last country on the President of the European Commission's Balkan tour. Earlier this week, she visited Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and today she held talks in Serbia and Kosovo.