Danish Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjerre on Tuesday urged North Macedonia to take advantage of a “rare opportunity” to advance its EU membership bid, as Copenhagen prepares to assume the EU Council presidency on July 1 with enlargement among its top priorities.
Speaking during a visit to Skopje, Bjerre said that Russia’s war in Ukraine and shifting global dynamics have sharpened the EU’s focus on enlargement, and that North Macedonia must deliver on key reforms to move forward in its accession process.
“As the incoming presidency, we cannot achieve this alone,” Bjerre told a joint press conference with North Macedonia’s Minister for European Affairs Orhan Murtezani. “We are here to build a partnership and explore how we can accelerate progress together. We expect North Macedonia to undertake the necessary efforts and implement the required reforms. We will do everything in our power to help.”
Murtezani said the country remains committed to meeting the Copenhagen criteria – the EU’s benchmark standards for candidate countries – and emphasised the need to protect the accession process from bilateral disputes and political interference.
“When the process faces political and bilateral pressures, these criteria are our main guarantee,” Murtezani said. “They remind us that EU integration must be based on democracy, rule of law, and a functioning market economy – not on issues that lie outside those values.”
North Macedonia is currently expected to deliver three reform roadmaps to the European Commission – on rule of law, public administration, and democratic institutions – along with an action plan on minority rights. The roadmaps are nearly finalised, while the action plan has been submitted to the Council of Europe for review.
Bjerre did not offer a concrete response when asked how Denmark, as incoming EU president, would support North Macedonia in overcoming its long-standing dispute with Bulgaria, or whether it would back a high-level meeting between the two sides on the margins of the upcoming EU summit in The Hague. But she emphasised that the moment for enlargement had arrived.
“There is real momentum for enlargement – we see progress in Ukraine, Moldova, and Albania, which is opening two new clusters, one now and one in the autumn,” Bjerre said. “Montenegro is also moving forward after years of stagnation. The momentum is here, and I urge you to seize it.”
She added that Denmark will approach its presidency with a constructive mindset, aiming to work closely with North Macedonia to identify where and how progress can be made.
“We’re aware that North Macedonia has made significant progress. Now is the time to take the next step,” Bjerre said. “There was enlargement fatigue, but that’s changing. We want to renew our commitment to the process – not just for Ukraine and Moldova, but also for the Western Balkans.”
She said Europe must emerge as a stronger geopolitical actor in response to current global challenges, and that enlargement is key to strengthening the continent.
“A bigger Europe is also a stronger Europe,” she said. “North Macedonia has been a candidate for almost 20 years. Now is the time to move forward again. We believe a stronger Europe includes your country and the region. We are here to support you – but the progress must be built on reforms. We hope to work with you during our presidency to pave the way to EU membership.”