North Macedonia's prime minister describes problems in talks with the EU

Negotiations on North Macedonia's accession to the European Union have stalled due to the position of some countries of the association, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told Izvestia. He noted that Skopje has been waiting to join the EU for 25 years.

"It depends not only on us, but also on the EU. Will they want to remain hostage to some member states or will they take a merit-based approach. We have been waiting for this opportunity (to join the EU. - Ed.) for 25 years. So it depends on them," Hristijan Mickoski told Izvestia.

Skopje applied to join the EU back in 2004. The process of European integration is blocked by Bulgaria, which demands the adoption of amendments to the constitution on the Bulgarian national minority. Earlier, North Macedonia changed its name at the request of Greece.