Rokas: It is necessary to achieve unity in the country to overcome the obstacles to EU accession

Skopje – The door of the European Union is wide open. There is full support for North Macedonia to join the EU and I believe that at this moment it is necessary for the country to unite – the Government, the opposition, the Parliament, civil society, businesses and young people to be pragmatic in accelerating the reforms, said today the EU ambassador in the country, Mihail Rokas.

At the promotion of the two research papers, “Analysis of Public Opinion on the Accession of North Macedonia to the European Union (2014 – 2025)” and “New Global Uncertainties, Old European Obligations: Public Opinion on EU Accession in 2025” in the Parliament, he expressed his conviction that although the survey showed that citizens believe that the external factor is an obstacle to joining the Union, if internal unification happens, the other obstacles will be overcome.

– I guarantee you that if this happens, regardless of what citizens think about there being problems, the obstacles to accession will be overcome. Not only must action be taken immediately and it is not just an opportunity that should be used, but the timing is right as well. We cannot compare this year and last year with the situations five or six or four years ago – said Rokas, emphasizing that now the question is how to build partnership, trust and whom to trust.

He expressed satisfaction that, according to the analysis, the EU is the partner with the greatest trust.

– I hope that with the effort we will jointly invest this year we will have even better results next year, not only in the survey but also from a pragmatic aspect in terms of the country’s movement towards the EU – said Rokas.

Comparing the research with that of last year, he emphasized that the results provide a great incentive, that is, the percentage of the population that is “for” joining the Union has increased by 10 percent, from 61 to 71 percent.

– Support from young people is greater. It is very important that young people also support it, that is, young people show that this is the future. It is a boost that the gap between different ethnicities or the participation of political parties is narrowing, there is a smaller divide. Everyone is “for” the EU. We note that citizens also reflect the priorities of the EU growth plan and the reform agenda, specifically the protection of the environment, but also judicial reforms and the fight against corruption – emphasized Rokas. 

According to him, a great incentive is that the European Union continues to be a trusted partner of the country, an economic partner and the main donor. 

– A very big incentive for us is the finding that citizens believe that the country will enter the EU has risen from only 17 to over 30 percent – added Rokas. (28 January 2026)