Latest news with #Mickoski
Euronews
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Several injured in knife attack at Hamburg train station, police say
Police in Hamburg are responding to reports of a knife attack at the city's main train station. Hamburg police said in a post on X that "several people" were injured and that the suspect has been detained. But they gave no details about the number of severity or injuries. The Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper said four people were seriously injured and the Bild daily reported that the person under arrest was a woman. Police said that a "major operation" is under way at the train station. This is a developing story and our journalists are working on further updates. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas voiced strong support for North Macedonia's path to become a full-fledged member of the bloc on her last stop of a three-day visit to the Western Balkan hopefuls. Speaking alongside Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski in Skopje on Thursday, Kallas said the EU 'stands firmly' with North Macedonia and praised the country's progress on economic growth, reforms, and alignment with EU foreign and security policies. 'North Macedonia belongs to the European Union,' she said. After years of little to no movement on their respective membership paths, Brussels has rescuscitated accession talks with countries in Europe's southeast after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, after fears emerged that Moscow or other malign actors might capitalise on any instability in what has been dubbed the continent's "soft underbelly". The EU foreign policy chief again reiterated these concerns, warning that non-integration of the Western Balkans into the 27-member bloc remains a security risk. 'The European Union is a peace project,' she said, 'and full integration of the region helps reduce tensions.' Considered an early frontrunner following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, North Macedonia has remained on the receiving end of EU membership vetoes over bilateral disputes with EU member states Greece and Bulgaria. After resolving the decades-long standoff with Athens by signing the 2018 Prespa Agreement, Skopje again saw its membership bid conditioned by further demands, this time by Sofia. "Unfortunately, for more than 20 years, we've faced challenges that no other country — I would say in the Western Balkans, or even those that are now EU member states — has encountered," Mickoski told Euronews Serbia in an interview last week. "Let me remind you: together with Croatia, we were granted candidate status for EU membership back in 2005 — nearly 20 years ago. Since 2008, both Croatia and North Macedonia received a positive report from the European Commission recommending the start of negotiations with the EU," the Macedonian premier explained. "Unfortunately, 20 years later, we are still in the same place we were back then." "Our path toward full EU membership is burdened with bilateral issues, and most often, these are issues tied to identity, as well as to historical events that happened 10 or more centuries ago," Mickoski added. "Sadly, no living person can testify to what exactly happened 10 centuries ago, so we are unable to find a resolution today." "Instead of negotiating about the future — about the 22nd century, about the challenges of the 21st century, artificial intelligence, major energy transitions, and all current global topics — we have been stuck for 20 years due to bilateral disputes. And we are still where we were exactly 20 years ago." Recently, Albania and Montenegro have emerged as the region's main frontrunners for EU membership. Serbia, North Macedonia and Bosnia are the other three candidate countries among the Western Balkan six, while Kosovo still remains a potential candidate.
Euronews
23-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Kallas backs North Macedonia's EU membership bid despite ongoing stall
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas voiced strong support for North Macedonia's path to become a full-fledged member of the bloc on her last stop of a three-day visit to the Western Balkan hopefuls. Speaking alongside Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski in Skopje on Thursday, Kallas said the EU 'stands firmly' with North Macedonia and praised the country's progress on economic growth, reforms, and alignment with EU foreign and security policies. 'North Macedonia belongs to the European Union,' she said. After years of little to no movement on their respective membership paths, Brussels has rescuscitated accession talks with countries in Europe's southeast after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, after fears emerged that Moscow or other malign actors might capitalise on any instability in what has been dubbed the continent's "soft underbelly". The EU foreign policy chief again reiterated these concerns, warning that non-integration of the Western Balkans into the 27-member bloc remains a security risk. 'The European Union is a peace project,' she said, 'and full integration of the region helps reduce tensions.' Considered an early frontrunner following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, North Macedonia has remained on the receiving end of EU membership vetoes over bilateral disputes with EU member states Greece and Bulgaria. After resolving the decades-long standoff with Athens by signing the 2018 Prespa Agreement, Skopje again saw its membership bid conditioned by further demands, this time by Sofia. "Unfortunately, for more than 20 years, we've faced challenges that no other country — I would say in the Western Balkans, or even those that are now EU member states — has encountered," Mickoski told Euronews Serbia in an interview last week. "Let me remind you: together with Croatia, we were granted candidate status for EU membership back in 2005 — nearly 20 years ago. Since 2008, both Croatia and North Macedonia received a positive report from the European Commission recommending the start of negotiations with the EU," the Macedonian premier explained. "Unfortunately, 20 years later, we are still in the same place we were back then." "Our path toward full EU membership is burdened with bilateral issues, and most often, these are issues tied to identity, as well as to historical events that happened 10 or more centuries ago," Mickoski added. "Sadly, no living person can testify to what exactly happened 10 centuries ago, so we are unable to find a resolution today." "Instead of negotiating about the future — about the 22nd century, about the challenges of the 21st century, artificial intelligence, major energy transitions, and all current global topics — we have been stuck for 20 years due to bilateral disputes. And we are still where we were exactly 20 years ago." Recently, Albania and Montenegro have emerged as the region's main frontrunners for EU membership. Serbia, North Macedonia and Bosnia are the other three candidate countries among the Western Balkan six, while Kosovo still remains a potential candidate.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Macedonia wants EU, NATO at its talks to settle row with Bulgaria
(Reuters) -North Macedonia wants to discuss with Bulgaria matters that block its path to European Union membership during next month's NATO summit and hopes top EU and NATO officials can also attend such a meeting, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said on Friday. A NATO member, North Macedonia became an EU candidate in 2005 and opened membership negotiations in 2022, but talks have stalled due to objections from neighboring Bulgaria over history and language. Bulgaria wants North Macedonia to recognise a Bulgarian minority in its constitution, which Mickoski's nationalist government has refused to do. "We are ready to talk, to have bilateral talks at the level of partnership relations within the NATO alliance," Mickoski told a news conference in the capital of Skopje, held together with EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas. "Anyone who wants to assist, we are ready to talk to them," he said when asked if his government would accept outside mediation in the matter. Kallas, who arrived in North Macedonia as part of her trip to the Western Balkans region, praised its hosts for aligning with the European common security and foreign policy and contributing to the regional security as part of the EU's peace force EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "My message today is to stay on the course and to take next steps necessary towards the opening of the negotiations," Kallas said. Mickoski said the idea of the bilateral meeting with Bulgaria during the summit in The Hague has been discussed and agreed with Kallas, but he did not know if Sofia will accept the offer. "We are ready to sit down and talk with anyone to accept certain mediation," he said. "We want a solution but the solution that will be dignified and long-lasting. We are tired of continuous blockages referring to the bilateral issues."
Reuters
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
North Macedonia wants EU, NATO at its talks to settle row with Bulgaria
May 23 (Reuters) - North Macedonia wants to discuss with Bulgaria matters that block its path to European Union membership during next month's NATO summit and hopes top EU and NATO officials can also attend such a meeting, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said on Friday. A NATO member, North Macedonia became an EU candidate in 2005 and opened membership negotiations in 2022, but talks have stalled due to objections from neighboring Bulgaria over history and language. Bulgaria wants North Macedonia to recognise a Bulgarian minority in its constitution, which Mickoski's nationalist government has refused to do. "We are ready to talk, to have bilateral talks at the level of partnership relations within the NATO alliance," Mickoski told a news conference in the capital of Skopje, held together with EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas. "Anyone who wants to assist, we are ready to talk to them," he said when asked if his government would accept outside mediation in the matter. Kallas, who arrived in North Macedonia as part of her trip to the Western Balkans region, praised its hosts for aligning with the European common security and foreign policy and contributing to the regional security as part of the EU's peace force EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "My message today is to stay on the course and to take next steps necessary towards the opening of the negotiations," Kallas said. Mickoski said the idea of the bilateral meeting with Bulgaria during the summit in The Hague has been discussed and agreed with Kallas, but he did not know if Sofia will accept the offer. "We are ready to sit down and talk with anyone to accept certain mediation," he said. "We want a solution but the solution that will be dignified and long-lasting. We are tired of continuous blockages referring to the bilateral issues."
Observer
17-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
North Macedonia, Britain agree on boosting ties
SKOPJE: North Macedonia and Britain have agreed on a major partnership deal that would boost trade and investment between the two countries, North Macedonia's prime minister said on Saturday. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his North Macedonian counterpart Hristijan Mickoski finalised the strategic partnership agreement, the first of its kind between Skopje and London, on the sidelines of a summit of European leaders in Tirana. "This partnership means much more than a bilateral engagement," Mickoski told a press conference in Skopje on Saturday. Serving as a base for a six-billion-euro investment cycle, "it will enable the strongest possible economic cooperation... including capital investments, infrastructure, health and energy," he added. It also provides for cooperation in defence, fighting organised crime and human trafficking, education, healthcare, culture and youth policy, Mickoski said. Matthew Lawson, British ambassador to North Macedonia, a Nato member country that hopes to join the EU, hailed the deal as a "highlight in our bilateral relations... built on common values and membership in Nato as well as very rich trade connection". — AFP
