Slovakia is a strong supporter of North Macedonia’s EU integration, but the European Union must not “play with the trust” of the people in this country, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said during an official visit to Skopje.
Pellegrini criticized the EU for what he called “double standards” in the enlargement process, saying that North Macedonia had fulfilled difficult conditions but still faced new obstacles.
“I understand the difficult path you have taken toward the EU, and I know how hard it was to resolve the name issue,” Pellegrini told a joint press conference with Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova. “But new conditions keep emerging, and I believe the EU is making a big mistake. Your country has been in this process for 20 years and has made tough decisions, yet there is still no clear answer about when you will join. The EU is risking people’s trust. Slovakia stands by you and will continue to support you in every possible way because we believe you belong in the Union.”
Both presidents agreed that North Macedonia’s accession should be based solely on meeting the Copenhagen criteria, not on political disputes or shifting demands.
“Is the 2030 deadline realistic? I truly hope so,” Pellegrini said. “But I believe the EU is toying with the efforts of this country. The process must remain technical and fair, not driven by geopolitical games. Otherwise, it will be a grave political mistake that the EU will regret. I cannot accept double standards, and that is why I am critical of the EU.”
In Brussels, debate has recently intensified over whether to abolish the unanimity rule for EU enlargement decisions. Member states remain divided, with Slovakia opposing the change.
“Eliminating consensus would mean big countries dictate the terms while small ones must comply,” Pellegrini said. “That’s why we want to retain the veto right – to ensure that every country has an equal voice.”
Siljanovska-Davkova thanked Pellegrini for Slovakia’s “clear and consistent support” for North Macedonia’s European path.
“There is no better feeling than hearing a president of an EU member state express firm support for our accession,” she said. “We both agree that enlargement should be based on merit and results, not on irrational new conditions that undermine the process.”
She also commented on developments in Gaza, expressing gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for his efforts to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“We welcome the ongoing peace talks in Gaza and the efforts of President Trump. We have always advocated for lasting peace in the Middle East, which is directly connected to our peace and Europe’s peace,” she said.
The two presidents described relations between North Macedonia and Slovakia as stable and friendly. They signed a memorandum to deepen economic cooperation, which both leaders said had strong potential despite currently modest trade volumes.
Pellegrini expressed hope that the upcoming visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Skopje on Tuesday would reaffirm the EU’s commitment to the region’s integration.
North Macedonia has yet to open negotiation clusters with the EU, as the process remains blocked by Bulgaria’s demand that the Bulgarian minority be explicitly mentioned in the country’s Constitution. Skopje’s government has resisted without guarantees that no further conditions will follow.
Bulgaria vetoed the start of accession talks in 2020 over disputes related to language, history, and identity. A compromise framework mediated by the EU in 2022 allowed the process to move forward, with Skopje agreeing to include Bulgarians in the Constitution’s preamble while preserving the official recognition of the Macedonian language.
The first intergovernmental conference between North Macedonia and the EU took place on July 19, 2022. The second, which would open the first negotiation chapters, depends on constitutional amendments that have yet to be adopted by the Macedonian parliament.