Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski: New Priorities for North Macedonia

On Monday, July 8, 2024—the eve of the 75th Anniversary NATO Summit in Washington, DC—FPI was honored to host Hristijan Mickoski, the new Prime Minister of North Macedonia, in his first public appearance in the United States as PM.

After ​seven years in opposition, VMRO-DPMNE swept into power following elections last month. With the new government sworn in, it's time to ask: how will new Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, along with his coalition partners, use their substantial governing majority?

In conversation with FPI Senior Fellow Edward P. Joseph. PM Mickoski set out his priorities for his incoming government: the fight against corruption and for rule of law, wider judicial reform, energy policy, and improvement in the business and investment climate. He also discussed the way forward for North Macedonia's EU accession process and his country's contributions to the NATO alliance.

Joseph was "thoroughly impressed with Prime Minister Mickoski's unequivocal Western orientation, wholesale alignment with the Alliance on Ukraine, and skepticism towards China, and towards those regional neighbors who flirt with Moscow and Beijing."

Afterwards Greek Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Nikolaos Sapountzis expressed his appreciation to Prime Minister Mickoski for his remarks—a boost to Greek-Macedonian relations.