Mickoski on the EC report: "We don't lack reforms; what remains are political conditions"

EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas handed North Macedonia's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski the European Commission report on November 5, which says further progress depends on constitutional amendments adding Bulgarians, as agreed in the Council conclusions of July 2022, Expres and Albeu report. The Commission says no effort has been made on those amendments, and there has been no progress on corruption or freedom of expression.

The rating for Chapter 23 (judiciary) improved from "no progress" to "limited progress", and for the functioning of the judiciary to "some progress".

"We don't lack reforms; what remains are political conditions," Mickoski said. He said €142.1 million had been disbursed under the reform agenda by June, growth in 2025 was 3.5 percent and unemployment fell from 12.5 to 11.7 percent.

A two-thirds majority

President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova said on November 3 that about 80 percent of citizens oppose changing the constitution, which has been amended 26 times; an amendment needs a two-thirds majority in parliament. On November 6 Mickoski said the government's position is "clear and unchanged", but that dialogue with Bulgaria is ongoing.