North Macedonia officials meet French Senate delegation on EU path

EU integration French Senate delegation Western Balkans parliamentary cooperation European path

North Macedonian officials and European representatives met in Skopje to discuss the country’s European integration and bilateral relations. A delegation from the French Senate, led by Marta de Cidrac, met with President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and other state leaders. The French delegation reaffirmed its support for North Macedonia’s European path, while the President highlighted the “unnaturally and illogically long” integration process, noting that obstacles have often been based on identity issues rather than reform criteria.

During a Civil Forum, Austrian MEP Thomas Weiz emphasized that progress is essential for North Macedonia to develop into a modern, democratic society with better living conditions, regardless of the timing of EU membership. He stressed that addressing issues such as air quality, rule of law, and environmental management is vital for economic stability.

Speaker of the Assembly Afrim Gashi also participated, stating that EU integration must result in tangible improvements for citizens, including better education, healthcare, and job opportunities, rather than just legal alignment. He called for the European agenda to become a “citizen agenda” that is non-partisan and long-term.

Entities

Afrim Gashi · European Union · French Senate · Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova · Marta de Cidrac · Marta de Sidrac · North Macedonia · Thomas Weiz

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] A French Senate delegation led by Marta de Sidrac visited North Macedonia. pretsedatel.mk · lider.mk
[○ 1 SOURCE] The 2022 Venice Commission opinion on the Law on the Use of Languages noted higher standards for minority rights protection than European standards. pretsedatel.mk
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Macedonian path to Brussels has faced identity-based obstacles rather than reform-based ones. pretsedatel.mk
[○ 1 SOURCE] The meeting included discussions on strengthening economic cooperation and investment. lider.mk
[○ 1 SOURCE] Macedonia has the continuous support of France on its path to the European Union. lider.mk
[○ 1 SOURCE] There is a commitment to promoting Francophonie and cooperation in French language and culture. lider.mk