Siljanovska-Pierce meeting: North Macedonian citizens are tired of blockades and double standards in the country's EU integration negotiations

President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova met with the United Kingdom's special envoy for the Western Balkans, Karen Pearce, whose visit she described as a clear indicator of British interest and commitment to the Western Balkans.

According to Siljanovska-Davkova, the assessment of progress should be meritocratic, with a focus on fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria. Siljanovska-Davkova, as her cabinet announced this afternoon, pointed out the destructiveness of bilateralizing the negotiation process under the threat of a veto.

She informed about the satiety and fatigue of the citizens of Macedonia from the numerous precedents, blockades and double standards. For her, the denial of national and cultural identity, as well as the disrespect for the dignity and integrity of Macedonian citizens, is contrary to fundamental European values ​​and principles.

The president sees a possible way to overcome the blockade, as quoted in the statement, in the creative interpretation of the Negotiating Framework and the competence of the Mixed Commission on Historical and Educational Issues.

Special Representative Karen Pierce expressed understanding for the need to overcome the blockade of Macedonia's European integration.

The interlocutors assessed the cooperation between the United Kingdom and North Macedonia as successful, expressing readiness to deepen and expand it. Both expect significant benefits for the region from the upcoming Berlin Process Summit in London.