Skopje, 28 March 2026 (MIA) - Politicians must focus on energy and artificial intelligence because that is the future of the world. The politicians who speak of romantic ideas from the past seem interesting only for a small group of people, said Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski in his address Saturday at the „Youth Vision 2030: Western Balkans, Stability & AI in Education“ event held in Skopje.

“Politicians who speak of romantic ideas from the past may seem interesting to a small group of people, but the politicians of the future must have knowledge about artificial intelligence and energy because those are the challenges of the future. Romantic ideas are for the past, and if we want to develop our societies we must care about the future, and you are the solution for the future,” Mickoski told youth members of European People’s Party (EPP) sister parties discussing the role of technology, stability, and youth policies in Skopje. 

Mickoski expressed his satisfaction with being able to share some of his experience with young people, some of which, he said, will be future MEPs and commissioners.

“Since the EPP is a leading party in Europe, I expect a big part of the young people here to be future MEPs and commissioners shaping the future of Europe. Back when I was preparing my doctorate, I used algorithms that today are being used by artificial intelligence. The future of the world rests on AI applications,” Mickoski said at the event organized by the Youth Forces Union of VMRO-DPMNE, the EPP’s student organization European Democrat Students (EDS) and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS).

The official representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in the country, Daniel Braun, said current global conflicts show that the world order is in the process of falling apart. He said the EU often finds it hard to make foreign policy decisions because the member states sometimes have different interests, while adding that on nuclear threats and the energy sector Europe must speak with a single voice. 

"That is why Europe’s capacities need to be strengthened. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said a few weeks ago that Europe must once again learn to speak the language of power. Especially when it comes to nuclear threats and the energy sector, Europe must speak with one voice. This does not mean we should completely withdraw from our old partnerships, but rather that we must clearly define and protect our interests," Braun stressed.

Sergej Popov, head of the Youth Forces Union of VMRO-DPMNE, touched upon the European integration process, describing it as necessary while noting that it must be founded on genuine reforms, functional institutions, and the rule of law.  

"For countries like ours, the European path is not a matter of political fashion, but a strategic necessity. However, this path must be built on credibility. Reforms must be genuine, institutions must function, and the rule of law must be strengthened in practice, not just declared in political documents. At the same time, the process of European integration must preserve its own credibility. It must be based on clear criteria, equal treatment, and predictable progress. Without this shared responsibility, the process risks losing its meaning, especially among young people who expect clarity and fairness," Popov said.

More than 70 young leaders from sister parties of the European People’s Party (EPP) from all of Europe are participating in the event, discussing the role of technology, stability, and youth policies in the future of the Western Balkans.

Photo: MIA/VMRO-DPMNE