Two European Union countries have taken 21 years away from North Macedonia’s EU integration process, said Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, while defending the eight conditions Zagreb has set for Montenegro. He argues that Croatia is acting constructively, unlike the manner in which Macedonia was blocked on its European path.
To illustrate Croatia’s constructive approach, Plenković cited Macedonia, which was ahead of Croatia in 2001 but has yet to open accession negotiations because of blockades by two EU member states, Greece and Bulgaria.
“From 2005 to 2026, two countries have taken 21 years away from North Macedonia’s EU integration process. Croatia has not taken that approach. Despite a difficult legacy, we have engaged with Montenegro in a very constructive manner and identified the issues we believe it needs to address, as these are part of the European values it will have to embrace upon joining the EU,” Plenković said.
The statement comes at a time when Germany is exerting strong diplomatic pressure on Zagreb not to slow down Montenegro’s accession. According to Euronews, Berlin has even offered to mediate the dispute.
In his remarks, the Croatian Prime Minister alluded to the long-standing blockades Macedonia has faced from Greece and Bulgaria.