During his official visit to Skopje, North Macedonia, David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of North Macedonia. They make a statement after their meeting.

meeting

EU - North Macedonia (T)

official visit

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

Skopje

North Macedonia

ZAEV, Zoran (MK)

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President, to Skopje, North Macedonia: extracts from the meeting with Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of North Macedonia and the joint statement

Exterior views of the Government building (2 shots) 

David SASSOLI, EP President is welcomed by Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, handshake. 

David SASSOLI, EP President entering the honour hall, handshake with members of the government of North Macedonia.

Round table, views during the meeting (3 shots) .

SOUNDBITE (Serbian), Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of North Macedonia, EU Member States discussed to undertake negotiations with Macedonia and Albania, but at the end this decision was not taken during the October session of the European Council. Almost all countries agreed that on October 18 there was an injustice towards North Macedonia. The non-approval of the opeining of the negotiations with the European Union was a historical mistake. This represents a wrong signal for all of us and for the Region. Because the Republic of Northern Macedonia has activated a great political energy to deliver and bring the country on the road towards the EU. 

We have solved unsurpassable challenges that for all seemed a mission impossible. We succeeded because we had a great motivation in the European perspective of our country and our citizens. We all had justified expectations that it was finally time to turn over a new page. We all believed that we could undertake the negotiations becouse we belive that our efforts of transformation will be appreciated and that through this process we will be able to reach European standards and become a full member of the Union.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, We are in the presence of a setback, not a failure. A setback due to the fact that some countries have expressed objections but we are stronger because we have on our side all the European institutions that are convinced that Northern Macedonia should begin the accession process that there are all the features and all the conditions for this to happen and take place even in a short time. We have great confidence in this. Now it's about understanding the objections. I believe that some countries are already beginning to rethink and this is very positive for us. Mr President, because we know that we had confidence in the beginning of the process of joining the last council, but certainly if it will only be a matter of a few months. Of course this will perhaps allow the institutions of Northern Macedonia to begin other reforms as well. Let's not stop. We have a common horizon.

Today when I arrived I went to inaugurate the House of Europe here in Skopje I met many young people who came from so many areas of Macedonia and I saw how much trust, how much faith in the value of Europe is in your country. I believe this is the greatest wealth for us. For us Europeans because we certainly have two big questions to solve. First define the European space. That is why we are for the process of joining Northern Macedonia as well as other countries. And then because we have security. Because we have security, we are sure that the challenges of the global world must be addressed together and because we have the right values ​​to face them. The European Union is a Union of will ,of conveniences , but not only that. We have to defend our values. The values of the freedom, of democracy, and  our independence.

Handshake at the end of the press conference , departure .