Brussels, 17 December 2025 (MIA) - The Council welcomes that North Macedonia has maintained EU integration as its strategic goal and calls upon it to intensify efforts in advancing the EU-related reforms, reads the country section in the Danish EU Presidency conclusions on enlargement.

"The Council remains committed to further progress of North Macedonia’s gradual integration in the EU internal market, on the basis, inter alia, of enhanced implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. The Council welcomes the ongoing implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans in North Macedonia, which is on track to deliver concrete benefits to the citizens. It takes positive note of the first two partial payments under the Reform and Growth Facility and encourages North Macedonia to continue the implementation of its Reform Agenda," read the draft-conclusions.

It notes that good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation remain essential elements of the enlargement process, as well as of the Stabilisation and Association Process. The Council recalls the importance of achieving tangible results and implementing in good faith bilateral agreements, including the Prespa agreement with Greece and the Treaty on Friendship, Good-neighbourliness and Cooperation with Bulgaria in line with the Negotiating Framework.

"The Council strongly commends North Macedonia for its consistent cooperation on foreign policy issues, and its steadfast and long-standing full alignment with the EU CFSP, including on EU restrictive measures – a strong signal of North Macedonia’s strategic commitment to its EU path. The Council also welcomes North Macedonia’s continued active participation in EU missions and operations under the CSDP and readiness to enhance cooperation in the framework of the Security and Defence Partnership with the EU," reads the document.

Recalling its conclusions of July 2022, the Council notes that North Macedonia has not yet completed the constitutional changes, to which it has committed itself. The Council reaffirms its readiness to convene another intergovernmental conference, without further delays nor additional political decision, as soon as North Macedonia has implemented this commitment, in line with its internal procedures. Thereafter, the Council stands ready to open the first negotiating cluster as soon as possible, in line with the Negotiating Framework.

"The Council underlines that swift and decisive actions are needed in order for North Macedonia to meet the opening benchmarks for cluster 1 on the fundamentals. The Council calls upon North Macedonia to intensify efforts and deliver on reforms, notably in the area of the rule of law, where no progress was made during the last year. North Macedonia needs to safeguard the judicial independence and integrity, including through strengthening the Judicial Council in line with the 2023 peer review mission recommendation and opinion of the Venice Commission. The fight against corruption and organised crime needs to be reinforced. North Macedonia needs to improve its track record with effective investigations, prosecutions, final convictions and confiscation of criminal assets in high-level corruption cases. The Council calls on North Macedonia to adopt a new Criminal Code in line with the EU acquis and international standards. The Council notes that some progress was made in the area of public administration reform and encourages North Macedonia to intensify its efforts regarding the modernisation of its public administration and ensuring the required administrative capacity is in place," read the conclusions.

The Council takes note of the information provided by the Commission on some recent progress made, and encourages North Macedonia’s authorities to prepare and finalise in an inclusive manner the work on all three roadmaps for the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform and the rule of law chapters, as well as on the action plan dedicated to the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities or communities.

The Council reiterates its call on North Macedonia to further strengthen fundamental rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities or communities, media freedom and freedom of expression, while welcoming that recent local elections held in October and November 2025 were generally competitive, although with some procedural shortcomings. Comprehensive electoral reform is still needed, which includes addressing outstanding recommendations from OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission.

"The Council welcomes the cooperation on border management between North Macedonia and Frontex. The Council calls upon North Macedonia to step up efforts to improve asylum reception systems and procedures," reads the document.

On the economic criteria, the Council notes the good level of preparation and limited progress made by North Macedonia in developing a functioning market economy. It positively notes that North Macedonia has made some progress and encourages the candidate to intensify its efforts to advance in its capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the EU and to implement necessary structural reforms.

"The Council welcomes the recent progress in relation to the rail connection along transport Corridor VIII, which is of strategic importance, and expects effective implementation of commitments made," it adds.

The conclusions were not adopted at Tuesday's session of the General Affairs Council due to Hungary's opposition to the section related to Ukraine, prompting Denmark to issue the text as Presidency conclusions.

MIA file photo