Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković called on North Macedonia in Skopje on Thursday to continue with reforms on its path towards EU membership "despite very often unfair obstacles."
"We are all well aware that the global situation is not positive and that developments are such that we don't know what will happen in the coming days, weeks, months and years. For this reason, it's very important to have friends and partners. That's at the very core of my visit," he said at a joint press conference with the president of the Sobranie, Afrim Gashi.
Gashi described Jandroković as a "sincere friend" of North Macedonia and said both countries were "genuinely interested in deepening and nurturing relations". He added that "Croatia has been and remains a strong and steadfast advocate of our country's EU membership prospects."
Jandroković reiterated Croatia's "strong support" for North Macedonia's path to EU membership. "Membership in the European Union has its geopolitical dimension, providing a sense of security, but the reforms you undergo in that process are also very important. From Croatia's experience, I can say we strengthened our institutions, bolstered the economy (...) I encourage you, therefore, to give your utmost effort to build the strongest possible institutions, to strengthen the economy and to improve the standard of living. All of this happens through the negotiation process."
He urged them to continue with reforms despite all the obstacles they have been facing for years. "Regardless of the problems, difficulties and even obstacles that are often unfair, it's worth investing in the process of negotiations and the transformation of society."
Gashi said he was "aware of the reforms that need to be implemented and the problems that need to be resolved", but he believes that "with allies like Croatia", this process will ultimately be successful.
"In this context, I want to emphasise that the reform agenda and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans are important and encouraging elements that testify to the EU's engagement in supporting our integration and that of the countries in the region," he added.
North Macedonia submitted its application for EU membership in March 2004, a year after Croatia, which this year marks 12 years of membership. North Macedonia has held candidate status since 2005, but progress towards membership has been slow and obstructed by member states. Greece blocked it for years over its name, prompting Skopje to relent and change the country’s name from Macedonia to North Macedonia in 2019.
In March 2020, during Croatia's presidency of the Council of the EU, a political agreement was reached on opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania.
Due to Bulgarian resistance, the EU organised the first intergovernmental conference with North Macedonia only in July 2022. Since then, Skopje has been awaiting the opening of the first negotiation cluster on fundamental issues, having encountered a new blockade from Sofia, which demands the Bulgarian minority be included in the preamble of North Macedonia's constitution.
Jandroković addresses North Macedonia parliament
A ceremonial session was held at the Sobranie, where Jandroković delivered a speech, saying that "the friendship far exceeds the 33 years that have passed since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries as independent and sovereign states."
He said there was room for strengthening cooperation in several sectors. "A significant number of companies from Croatia and North Macedonia are already present in both countries, and Croatian-North Macedonian business clubs in Zagreb and Skopje can significantly contribute to further diversification of economic cooperation and new investments. We see particular potential for further strengthening cooperation in transport, infrastructure, energy, the food industry, agriculture, the chemical and defence industries, as well as in the information technology sector and tourism. Last year, over 50,000 North Macedonian tourists visited Croatia, and those numbers are constantly increasing."
Jandroković is on a three-day official visit to North Macedonia, a country with which Croatia has no outstanding issues, and trade exchange is on an upward trajectory, reaching more than €320 million in 2023.
Today, he will meet with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, and he will also be received by the Croatian business club, which brings together representatives of Croatian companies operating in the country.