Mickoski calls for opposition to join Bulgaria dialogue process

North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said the European Union remains the country's strategic goal and that there has been no change in this regard. Responding to a parliamentary question from Arbana Pašoli of the European Front, he addressed the government's strategy for removing obstacles to European integration and opening negotiating chapters. He said the aim is for the process not only to start but to be completed.

Mickoski said the government is holding a dialogue with Bulgaria and invited the opposition to take part directly. He said that proposing representatives to join the team conducting this dialogue would be a respected step. Mickoski assessed that the current situation is a result of the policies of the previous SDSM and DUI governments, and said the process is moving slowly but is taking place.

The prime minister said the next step would be to harmonize the Action Plan on Minorities, which has been accepted by the 26 EU member states but not by Bulgaria. He said that even a constitutional change would not be enough to continue negotiations without a harmonized plan for minorities, and repeated his call for the opposition to join the dialogue.