Mainl-Raisinger: Bilateral issues should not be a stumbling block on the path to the EU

Skopje – We are serious about supporting the country on its path to the EU. We see how much has been done on your part and how many steps have been taken, and now 20 years have passed since then, and that we are now also obliged to keep bilateral issues bilateral, and not to set them as stumbling blocks, said the head of the Austrian diplomacy Beate Meinl-Reisinger at a joint press conference with her host, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mutsunski.

She emphasized that the country needs to take a few more steps, while at the same time the EU needs to have an interest in supporting and accelerating this process, to be sincere and not to place any more stumbling blocks.

– My message today to all citizens of North Macedonia is that we are really serious about supporting the country on its path to the EU. You are the part that Europe cannot give up, we are really serious when we say that we are not complete without you. The enlargement of the European Union should not be reduced to just a technical process, but it is a real strong promise, we need economic prosperity, freedom, and of course I would like to emphasize that this country has done a lot, said Meinl-Reisinger.

The Austrian minister noted that the country has had frustrating moments on the path to the EU and that the process is indeed very long for us.

– We note from the European Union that we have an obligation to make the citizens of this country feel that we are serious on this path. And because of that, we advocate for gradual integration into the EU and want you to feel that we support you. As for the year 2022, that was a compromise. And it seems to me that there may be different opinions on whether that was a fortunate or unfortunate solution, however, that compromise was given then, that is a fact. And it must be realized. Yes, we talked about it. Some more reforms need to be made by Macedonia, said Meinl-Reisinger. 

Meinl-Reisinger pointed out that the entire Western Balkans is a place of changed geopolitical conditions, and that we need to be aware that we are also important partners in responding to that geopolitical situation and therefore, she said, we need to return to our common strengths to strengthen this region.

Minister Mutsunski, for his part, pointed out that Austria is a continuous and principled supporter of our European path, a sincere ally and friend of our country and the entire region. A significant part of the discussions was dedicated to the Euro-integration process, during which Minister Mutsunski thanked for the continuous and vocal support from Austria.

Meinl-Reisinger and Mutsunski agreed that the enlargement of the European Union represents a geopolitical necessity for the security and stability of the continent. (May 16, 2025)