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International Pan‑European Union

Macedonia is Ready for Negotiations with the EU

On 17 January 2025, the Pan-European Union of Macedonia organised an international conference, "Business Diplomacy – The Path to Economic Growth and International Cooperation", at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Skopje. The event was held in cooperation with the Pan-European Union of Austria and the Institute of Regions of Europe - Salzburg.


PEU Macedonia Conference Skopje 2025

The Macedonian media outlet KURIR reported on the conference as follows.

MACEDONIA

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Pan-European Union:
Macedonia ready for a quick start to negotiations, a unilateral approach denying its right to language and identity is unjustified

Macedonia can serve as a model for other countries in Southeast Europe by demonstrating that the path to European integration is achievable, said Pavo Barišić, Secretary-General of the International Pan-European Union, at the international conference, "Business Diplomacy – The Path to Economic Growth and International Cooperation".

"A unilateral approach that denies the Macedonian people the right to their own language and identity, and claims that the Macedonian nation is artificially created, is unjustified. Following such logic, one might ask: 'Which nation in Europe is not 'artificial'?' If this perspective is pursued, numerous disputes could arise between Austria and Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, and the list could extend further into the distant past. Let us send a strong and clear message: Macedonia is a mature and ready country for a swift start to accession negotiations and full EU membership. Macedonia can serve as a model for other countries in Southeast Europe by demonstrating that the path to European integration is achievable," said Pavo Barišić.

As Barišić emphasised, the Pan-European Union's European unification programme put an end to such futile disputes and enabled the EU to establish itself as the most successful peacekeeping force in the world over the past seven decades. He reminded the audience that two decades have passed since Macedonia was granted candidate country status, yet numerous obstacles have slowed progress.

"The country has demonstrated that such obstacles can be overcome by fostering good neighbourly relations. The citizens of this country have resolved long-standing disputes with Greece, and we believe they will achieve the same with Bulgaria. This conference is an excellent opportunity to reaffirm the necessity of strengthening and accelerating Macedonia’s negotiations for EU membership. The citizens of this country have earned this with their significant contributions to peace and stability in Southeast Europe. Strengthening European security and diplomacy is in everyone’s interest, and welcoming Macedonia to the EU will contribute to that goal. Let us support the enlargement of the EU by integrating Macedonia – and, of course, other Southeast European countries striving for peace and stability – into the fold. I am here today with my Pan-European friends from Bulgaria, and I hope they will succeed in facilitating a resolution to this inexplicable dispute," said the Secretary-General.

He also conveyed a message from Alain Terrenoire, President of the International Pan-European Union:

"Who could understand that Slovenia, a former Yugoslav republic, has been a full EU member for over 20 years, while Macedonia, another republic from the same federation, is still awaiting accession? The Pan-European Union finds this incomprehensible and unacceptable, just as it cannot accept that other Southeast European candidate countries remain in the EU’s waiting room. At a time of growing global threats, Europe must act as a force and safeguard its legitimate interests, which are fundamental to its independence. Therefore, the EU must reform its institutions to achieve truly democratic, efficient, and accountable governance," Barišić stressed.

The Secretary-General praised Macedonia for its ambitious and proactive diplomacy aimed at advancing the European integration process.

The key questions at today’s international conference, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Skopje, revolve around how business and diplomacy can support each other and the importance of infrastructure in achieving this goal.

In addition to Barišić, opening speeches were delivered by Ambassador Andrej Lepavcov, President of the Pan-European Union of Macedonia; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Timčo Mucunski; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski; and Karlo Ressler, Member of the European Parliament and President of the EU-Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee. (MIA)

PEU Macedonia Skopje 2025 IPEU

Programme (EN) (PDF)