Pendarovski: Start of EU accession negotiations is a deserved and required step


The start of North Macedonia’s EU accession negotiations is deserved and required, for the purpose of stimulating comprehensive reforms and enhancing political culture in the country, President Stevo Pendarovski told EU Ambassador Samuel Zbogar.

“We expect the leaders of EU member-states to be consistent to their promises and acknowledge the work done, enabling North Macedonia’s progress in the Euro-integration field,” said President Pendarovski at the meeting.

Interlocutors agreed that North Macedonia is the only functional democracy in the region, considering the successfully organized and administered presidential elections and the opposition’s recognition of the results and the citizens’ will, the President’s Office said in a press release.

Ambassador Zbogar congratulated President Pendarovski on his election and handed over the letter of congratulations from European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

We hope for successful cooperation with President Stevo Pendarovski in the coming days and months, leading to North Macedonia’s EU integration, said EU Ambassador Samuel Zbogar.

“I met with President Pendarovski and brought the letter of congratulations from the European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, in which they express readiness for close cooperation for the European future of North Macedonia and a common Europe,” said Ambassador Zbogar.

He expressed appreciation for the President’s messages of reconciliation and unification of all political forces in the country during yesterday’s inauguration.

“I was also encouraged by his messages from today’s meeting. We discussed his possible visit to Brussels and meetings with EU leaders. This is something we will be working on in the coming weeks,” added Zbogar.