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Skopje – The Cypriot ambassador to North Macedonia, Andreas Fotiou, today, before the joint session of the National Council for Euro-Integration and the Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs, presented the priorities of Cyprus as the current holder of the EU presidency for the next six months, emphasizing that Cyprus will remain committed to regular and open dialogue with the Western Balkans, and that North Macedonia remains part of the EU enlargement process.
Fotiou pointed out that the Cypriot presidency, whose motto is “An autonomous Union open to the world”, means that the European Union must be autonomous because a more autonomous Union will demonstrate the necessary internal strength to cooperate with external partners whenever possible, while at the same time acting independently when necessary, respecting international law and order.
The Cypriot ambassador stressed that the Western Balkans remains a region of strategic importance for the EU, and the Union’s engagement with North Macedonia will continue with a credible, merit-based policy.
– The Cypriot presidency pays attention to regular and open dialogue with the Western Balkans, and North Macedonia remains part of the Union’s enlargement process. Cyprus recognizes North Macedonia’s commitment to advancing reforms and aligning with European standards and encourages the country’s constant and continuous efforts in that direction – said Fotiou.
The ambassador presented the five pillars of the Cypriot presidency of the Union, according to which, he pointed out, Cyprus will focus on autonomy through security and defense, autonomy through competitiveness, openness to the world, shared values, and negotiations on the budget for the next EU financial framework.
The newly appointed Minister for European Affairs Bekim Sali, in his address at the session, pointed out that the country’s European integration is not an administrative process, nor a technical agenda, but a civilizational determination that enjoys social support.
– For us, European integration is a clear state orientation that unites the government and the opposition, the institutions and the citizens. In a time of serious geopolitical turmoil, the enlargement policy is not an option but a necessity; it is also an investment in a stable and autonomous EU. In this picture, North Macedonia is part of the solution – said Sali.
He emphasized that the country continuously shows that it is a credible and responsible partner with the EU.
According to him, the accession process is not easy, which is why the country does not treat the implementation of reforms as an externally imposed obligation, but as an internal issue. This, Sali says, is our conscious political choice to strengthen the state and institutional capacities.
– For us, EU enlargement is an inseparable part of this vision. Europe cannot be complete if the Western Balkans remains on the margins; North Macedonia is ready to close that European political gap and become part of those agreements. That is why today we are sending a clear message – North Macedonia is ready, and this is a moment of political maturity both for North Macedonia and for the EU, a moment that neither we nor the EU must miss – emphasized Sali. (26 January 2026)