The S3 ministers visited North Macedonia at a time when the country is debating constitutional changes, the approval of which is a condition for further progress in accession negotiations with the EU. The ministers were acting on behalf of the Council of the EU, under a mandate from the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.

The S3 diplomatic chiefs held talks with the Foreign Minister of Northern Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, on, inter alia, the ongoing reforms on the road to the EU, the steps that Northern Macedonia is taking to promote good neighbourly relations, as well as the implications of the Russian aggression against Ukraine for EU enlargement policy.

Ministers of the Slavkov format countries held talks with key political actors in North Macedonia

“I appreciated that North Macedonia is fully aligned with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, including sanctions against Russia. I also congratulated Minister Osmani on North Macedonia’s successful chairmanship of the OSCE,” Czech diplomatic chief Jan Lipavský said.

The S3 foreign ministers were also received by the President of Northern Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, and held talks with the Speaker of the Parliament of Northern Macedonia, Talat Xhaferi. In meetings with the leader of the strongest opposition party, Hristijan Mickoski, and both government and opposition members of the Parliament of Northern Macedonia, the Slavkov format ministers then asked how their S3 countries can contribute to ensuring that the internal politically sensitive issue of constitutional change can be resolved primarily for the benefit of Macedonian society. “The current geopolitical situation is an opportunity for North Macedonia to take advantage of,” Minister Lipavsky stressed.

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