Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said today in Skopje that no country has joined the European Union (EU) for ten years and that he thinks that should change.
"My visit today to North Macedonia and previously to Kosovo and Montenegro shows Ireland's interest and our commitment to this region, as well as our determination to help North Macedonia and its neighbors on their way to EU integration," said Varadkar.
At a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovačevski, he pointed out that Ireland has always supported EU enlargement.
"We look forward to welcoming North Macedonia as the next member country and I hope that progress in the accession negotiations will accelerate. We are ready to help where we can, especially in relation to reforms," said Varadkar.
He pointed out that joining the EU should be a national ambition, not a party or political one.
"We had a strong consensus to do it. The people of North Macedonia and the region will benefit from EU membership, just as Ireland did when we joined," said Varadkar.
Kovačevski stated that the process of European reforms that had begun will be extended and pointed out that there is no force in the country that can stop it, because there are no other alternatives.
"And that process will end with the accession of North Macedonia to the EU in the mandate of the next government from 2024 to 2028, which will again be a pro-EU government and which will bring the country into the EU," Kovačevski pointed out.
Varadkar's visit is the first official visit by an Irish prime minister to North Macedonia, which this year marks 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations with Ireland.
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