Macedonia’s Musunski claims country is EU gateway as opposition decries isolation

Timcho Musunski, former deputy prime minister, said Macedonia offers indirect companies a competitive entry point to the regional and European market, calling the country a “gateway to Europe” rather than a “blind pipe”.

The SDSM opposition replied that the nation is isolated, beset by crime and political control, and asked how goods could reach the EU from such a position. They pointed to a European Commission report describing “one of the worst assessments” of the politicisation of the judiciary and the prime minister’s direct influence over institutions.

SDSM also highlighted that foreign direct investment has fallen by more than 60% since the VMRO‑DPMNE coalition came to power, reforms are blocked, and the prime minister has publicly said reforms may wait decades. They noted Macedonia’s recent NATO membership and alleged a shift toward BRICS ties as further concerns.