Ireland pledges strong support for North Macedonia’s EU membership

Competitiveness, values and security will be the three pillars of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026. Enlargement will remain among Dublin’s priorities, with North Macedonia able to count on Irish support on its path towards EU membership.

These were some of the messages delivered by Ireland’s Ambassador to North Macedonia, based in Bucharest, Brendan Ward, who presented the programme of the Irish presidency to Parliament, CE Report quotes MIA.

On behalf of North Macedonia, participants at the joint session of the Committee on European Affairs and the National European Integration Council called for acceleration of the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU single market, recognition of the country’s reform achievements and overcoming obstacles linked to bilateral and historical issues. The discussion also stressed the need for national consensus on the European agenda as well as the continuation of European support programmes for media freedom and the rule of law.

Ireland’s Ambassador to North Macedonia, based in Bucharest, Brendan Ward, said while presenting the programme of Ireland’s EU presidency that Dublin will work in line with the EU’s Strategic Agenda for 2024-2029.

“We have an ambitious plan built around three themes that will shape the presidency: competitiveness, values and security. These will reflect the pillars of the Strategic Agenda for 2024-2029, agreed by the European Council,” Ward said.

He stressed that EU enlargement will remain a key priority for Ireland.

“EU enlargement is an important priority for Ireland. We will work towards completing the accession negotiations with Montenegro and aim to achieve substantial progress in the negotiations with Albania, Ukraine and Moldova,” the Irish Ambassador said.

Speaking specifically about North Macedonia, Ward said Ireland will provide strong support for the country’s EU accession path.

“Certainly, we will strongly support North Macedonia on its path to EU membership and work together with our EU partners and the authorities in Skopje to see what progress can be made,” he said.

Ward also announced that Ireland will lead the Union through the complex negotiations on the EU’s new Multinational Financial Framework for 2028-2034, with the aim of securing a budget that will strengthen the EU’s competitiveness, values and security.

Deputy Minister of European Affairs, Viktorija Trajkov said it was encouraging for North Macedonia and the Western Balkans that the region remains high on the European Union’s agenda.

“The Western Balkans is not only a neighbour of the European Union, but an integral part of Europe’s future,” Trajkov said.

She added that the government remains committed to implementing reforms and expects the results to be adequately acknowledged.

“For this reason, we expect Macedonia’s reform achievements to be appropriately recognized and valued by the European Union institutions,” Trajkov said.

Parliament’s Deputy Speaker Antonijo Miloshoski underscored the importance of faster integration of the region into the European market and recalled the historical connection between North Macedonia’s EU integration process and Ireland.

“It is very important for us to continue with an accelerated pace of integrating the Western Balkan countries into the common European market,” Miloshoski said.

Miloshoski noted that Macedonia submitted its application for EU membership in 2004, during Ireland’s EU presidency, assessing that there is strong symbolism in Ireland once again assuming the presidency at a time when the country is looking for a new step forward on its path towards European integration.

The National European Integration Council member Dragan Sekulovski warned that European and advisory programmes supporting media freedom and the rule of law must not be discontinued.

“I regret having to note that the current, third phase of one of the Council of Europe programmes runs until December 2026 and so far there has been no announcements of its continuation,” Sekulovski said.

He called for support from the Irish presidency to extend regional programmes, stressing that “the issue is much broader, as it concerns the protection of all citizens who participate in public life and contribute to the democratic development of society.”

VMRO-DPMNE MP Ivanka Vasilevska noted that returning enlargement to the EU’s agenda sends an important political message.

“Restoring enlargement as a key focus is a clear signal that the European Union sees its own future as inseparable from the future of the continent,” Vasilevska said.

Alliance for Albanians MP Halil Snopche said that the European integration process depends primarily on domestic reforms.

“No EU presidency can make up for a lack of reforms. It cannot replace political will, a sense of responsibility and genuine commitment to European values,” Snopche said.

LDP leader Monika Zajkova used the motto of the Irish presidency as a message to domestic political actors.

“For years, we have been stuck in the same trenches and the same pattern. The government blames the opposition, the opposition blames the government, and the country makes no progress,” Zajkova said.

She called for a national agreement on the European agenda, saying that “it is high time we stopped treating the European agenda as a political conflict and finally started treating it as a common national goal.”

Zijadin Sela from the Alliance for Albanians said the European integration process requires respect of the European values and overcoming divisions.

“That is why we need to build a narrative that unites, not one that creates divisions. The European idea is based on mutual respect, dialogue and cooperation among nations,” Sela said.

The joint session was marked by support for the Irish presidency, but also by clear messages that Macedonia expects the next six months to bring renewed momentum to the EU enlargement policy.

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