Sassoli on an official visit to Skopje on November 4-5

New President of the European Parliament David Sassoli will visit North Macedonia November 4-5. It will be his first official trip outside the European Union after being appointed over the summer.

Ahead of his visit, Sassoli says North Macedonia and Albania should remain on the European track after the outcome of the October EU Summit.

“Visiting North Macedonia, and very soon after Albania, is of highest importance to me personally at this moment. We know that the population in both countries has been deeply disappointed by the Council`s failure to agree on the opening of accession talks due to the veto of a few member states. We understand and share this disappointment,” he says in a statement Wednesday.

The European Parliament after the summit of EU leaders, who failed to agree on the start of accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, adopted a resolution condemning the lack of capacity of the European Council to deliver.

Noting the resolution was adopted by a strong majority, Sassoli claims the EP will not remain silent and urges EU states to take a decision unanimously in favour of accession talks at the next meeting.

“Albania and North Macedonia have delivered on the reforms we asked from them and now deserve to be rewarded for their extraordinary efforts. All the more so, I want to call on the citizens and especially on the young generation: Do not give up hope, please remain on the European track. The European Parliament stands with you,” the EP President urges in the statement announcing his visit.

Sassoli encourages both countries to continue on their reform paths. “We are convinced that, despite the postponement, this time is not wasted.”

During his visit in Skopje, EP President Sassoli will meet Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, as well as President Stevo Pendarovski. In addition to delivering address in Parliament, he will also hold talks with the leaders of parliamentary political parties and Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi. He is scheduled to visit Tirana on December 2-3.