Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said Zagreb will continue to strongly support North Macedonia’s bid for European Union membership, according to a government statement released on Saturday following a phone call with North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski.
The two leaders discussed the future of North Macedonia’s EU accession process, the political landscape in Southeast Europe, and the upcoming European Parliament progress report on the country.
“Croatia will continue to strongly support North Macedonia, which deserves membership in the European Union,” Plenković said, according to the statement.
North Macedonia has been a candidate country since 2005 and officially began accession negotiations in July 2022. However, the process has stalled due to Bulgaria’s demand that the Bulgarian minority be formally included in North Macedonia’s constitution — a condition Skopje has yet to fulfill.
Earlier, Greece blocked North Macedonia’s EU path for over a decade, requiring the country to change its name from “Macedonia” to “North Macedonia,” a compromise agreed in 2019.
On his Facebook page, Mickoski confirmed the call, describing Croatia as a “proven friend” and emphasizing the importance of continued outreach ahead of the European Parliament’s report.
“I am using every channel to communicate the Macedonian truth — our progress, the values we defend, and the future we deserve,” Mickoski said. “Croatia’s vocal support at key moments is a great encouragement to us all. North Macedonia deserves EU membership, but with its head held high.”