As “much more optimistic” that North Macedonia “the most -finally, soon he will be part of the European family”, said the Prime Minister of the country, Hristian Mickoski, after the meetings he had in Berlin during his participation in the summit of the Berlin Process, BTA reported.
In front of MRT1, Mickoski stated that the message he heard was that Germany remains “a strong supporter, ally and partner in the process of European integration” of the country. In Berlin, Mickoski had a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as well as “with many influential deputies” from the parliamentary group of the VMRO-DPMNE sister party in the Bundestag, the Christian Democratic Union.
„I think that both at the bilateral meeting, but also before that at the working lunch, and at the beginning of the day, when it was the official part of the meetings of the Berlin process, and at the summit itself in Berlin, I could also feel to see not only from Chancellor Scholz, but also from other high-ranking politicians and prime ministers of the EU member states, that the support for us, in the process of European integration, is huge and this has never been and will never be put in question”, Mickoski said.
He specified that he presented the priorities of the government of North Macedonia in the economy and the country's ambition to be the crossroads of the Balkans, in terms of energy flows, road and railway infrastructure, "because both naturally and geographically (Northern) Macedonia is on the path of two important European corridors - Corridor 8 and Corridor 10".
"I emphasized both our political and economic goals - by 2026 to produce as much electricity as we will consume, and from 2027, with the implementation of the projects we plan to implement, to become exporters (of electricity ). In the part about the European integration processes, I again emphasized the government's position that both as a people and as a country we have given too much in the past decades and we deserve a chance to start the processes unconditionally. That we deserve to open the negotiation chapters and show our capacity for how quickly we can close them”, Mickoski said.
He reiterated that he remains willing to talk to anyone "for any real long-term solution with a clear long-term end” - the membership of North Macedonia in the EU.
„It is difficult as a small nation and a small country to protect our national interests, but we will protect them. This government will protect them. We do not conduct diplomacy on a twisted spine, we conduct diplomacy that is based on arguments. We are not conducting diplomacy in which we will accept everything that is put on the table, but diplomacy in which we will protect the interests of our citizens, our homeland, and at the same time we will work with our partners. Germany is our biggest supporter, our partner, and I am convinced that together we will be able to overcome all the challenges we are facing and that we will finally enjoy our country's membership in the EU”, Mickoski declared.