North Macedonia’s Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, has once again found himself at the center of controversy after claiming that his country has achieved more progress than Albania in its path toward the European Union. The statement, made while commenting on the European Commission’s 2025 Enlargement Report, has been widely criticized as misleading and factually untrue — an attempt to manipulate public perception rather than reflect actual EU progress indicators.
Mickoski’s Misleading Statement
Mickoski declared that the latest EU Progress Report did not record any “regression” in his country’s reforms, claiming North Macedonia is “ahead of Albania” when it comes to achievements and readiness for EU accession. He stated:
“I am extremely satisfied with the report. It confirms that there is no regression in reforms. We only have to make improvements in the Judicial Council and the Prosecutor’s Office. In fact, we are ahead of Albania in achievements and reforms.”
This statement, however, contradicts the official findings of the European Commission. The 2025 EU Enlargement Report, published on November 4, 2025, ranks Albania and Montenegro as the top-performing Western Balkan countries, while North Macedonia remains stalled due to political blockages and constitutional obstacles.
What the European Commission Report Actually Says
The official report evaluates countries based on negotiation progress, rule of law reforms, chapter (or cluster) advancement, and political stability. Below is a summary of the Commission’s ranking and evaluation for 2025:
🇪🇺 Western Balkans EU Accession Progress Summary
A quick overview of the current status, key progress, and main challenges for the EU candidate countries in the Western Balkans.
| Rank | Country | EU Status | Main Progress | Key Challenges | Target Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montenegro | Candidate; talks open since 2012 | 4 chapters closed, progress in 12 | Maintain political consensus | End of 2026 |
| 2 | Albania | Candidate; talks open since 2022 | 4 clusters opened, major justice reforms | Strengthening anti-corruption efforts | 2027 |
| 3 | Serbia | Candidate; talks open since 2014 | Economic growth cluster progress | Weak rule of law, media freedom issues | Unclear |
| 4 | North Macedonia | Candidate; talks open since 2020 | Drafted judicial reform roadmap | Blocked by Bulgaria’s constitutional veto | Unclear |
EU Accession Progress of Western Balkan Countries
The path to European Union membership involves extensive negotiations and deep internal reforms. This table provides a snapshot of the current status, key achievements, and major obstacles facing four Western Balkan candidate countries as of the latest reporting cycles.
| Rank | Country | EU Status | Main Progress | Key Challenges | Target Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montenegro | Candidate; talks open since 2012 | All 33 chapters open, with **7 provisionally closed**. Showing significant recent progress in Rule of Law (Chapters 23 & 24). | Maintaining political consensus and stability, combating high-level corruption, improving judicial efficiency. | End of 2026 |
| 2 | Albania | Candidate; talks open since 2022 | **4 clusters opened** (out of 6). Major justice reforms, progress in fighting organized crime and corruption. | Sustaining reform implementation momentum, further strengthening anti-corruption efforts, managing political polarization. | 2027 |
| 3 | Serbia | Candidate; talks open since 2014 | **21 chapters open, 2 provisionally closed**. Noteworthy progress in the economic growth cluster. | Weak rule of law, backsliding on media freedom and freedom of expression, and required alignment of foreign policy with the EU. | Unclear |
| 4 | North Macedonia | Candidate; talks open since 2022 | Accession negotiations officially opened. Judicial reform roadmap drafted. | Requires **constitutional changes** to recognize the Bulgarian minority (currently facing a political blockade). | Unclear |
*Note: Target years refer to the country's stated goal for concluding negotiations, which is subject to meeting all interim benchmarks and final criteria. Accession is merit-based.*
EU Accession Progress of Western Balkan Countries
The path to European Union membership involves extensive negotiations and deep internal reforms. This table provides a snapshot of the current status, key achievements, and major obstacles facing four Western Balkan candidate countries as of the latest reporting cycles.
| Rank | Country | EU Status | Main Progress | Key Challenges | Target Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montenegro | Candidate; talks open since 2012 | All 33 chapters open, with **7 provisionally closed**. Showing significant recent progress in Rule of Law (Chapters 23 & 24). | Maintaining political consensus and stability, combating high-level corruption, improving judicial efficiency. | End of 2026 |
| 2 | Albania | Candidate; talks open since 2022 | **4 clusters opened** (out of 6). Major justice reforms, progress in fighting organized crime and corruption. | Sustaining reform implementation momentum, further strengthening anti-corruption efforts, managing political polarization. | 2027 |
| 3 | Serbia | Candidate; talks open since 2014 | **21 chapters open, 2 provisionally closed**. Noteworthy progress in the economic growth cluster. | Weak rule of law, backsliding on media freedom and freedom of expression, and required alignment of foreign policy with the EU. | Unclear |
| 4 | North Macedonia | Candidate; talks open since 2022 | Accession negotiations officially opened. Judicial reform roadmap drafted. | Requires **constitutional changes** to recognize the Bulgarian minority (currently facing a political blockade). | Unclear |
*Note: Target years refer to the country's stated goal for concluding negotiations, which is subject to meeting all interim benchmarks and final criteria. Accession is merit-based.*
According to these facts, Albania clearly surpasses North Macedonia in measurable progress. Albania has opened four negotiation clusters, achieved substantial milestones in judicial reforms, and demonstrated consistent political commitment toward EU standards.
By contrast, North Macedonia’s process has been frozen, mainly due to Bulgaria’s veto over constitutional amendments and a lack of progress in corruption reduction.
Why Mickoski’s Statement Is a Political Bluff
Mickoski’s assertion that his government is “ahead of Albania” seems to be a political tool to deflect domestic criticism. His administration has faced increasing discontent over slow reforms, corruption scandals, and failure to implement EU-requested constitutional changes.
While Albania has already entered Cluster 1 (Fundamentals) and is working actively with Brussels on justice and governance chapters, Macedonia has yet to open any negotiation cluster.
In other words, Albania is moving, while North Macedonia is standing still.
The European Commission’s own language about Macedonia is cautious and points to “limited progress” in most areas, while Albania is praised for its “strong institutional resilience” and “consistent improvement in rule-of-law metrics.”
Albania: The New Leader in the Western Balkans
Albania’s recent reforms — particularly in the judiciary, digital governance, and anti-corruption measures — have been recognized not only by the European Commission but also by the OECD and Transparency International.
Tirana’s government has implemented several milestones under Cluster 1, such as:
• The consolidation of the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK);
• Increased convictions of high-level officials;
• Greater transparency in public procurement;
• Implementation of EU-aligned digital systems for justice and administration.
These achievements have positioned Albania as one of the fastest-moving candidates in the Western Balkans, narrowing the gap with Montenegro and setting a realistic goal of closing negotiations by 2027.
North Macedonia’s Setbacks
On the other hand, North Macedonia remains trapped in political polarization. The refusal to approve constitutional amendments requested by Bulgaria has halted EU accession talks. Furthermore, the European Commission’s report criticizes the country for:
• High levels of judicial and political corruption;
• Weak implementation of anti-discrimination laws;
• Persistent media pressure and lack of independence;
• Delays in reforms despite technical assistance from Brussels.
These are not the signs of a country “ahead” of Albania — rather, they are indicators of institutional stagnation.
The Truth Behind the EU Progress Story
It is therefore clear that Mickoski’s statement is not based on evidence but on nationalist rhetoric aimed at boosting domestic approval. While Albania continues to strengthen its legal institutions and cooperation with the EU, North Macedonia’s leadership is busy denying reality.
The truth is simple: Albania is ahead — not only in reforms but also in political maturity, consistency of governance, and alignment with European values.
By facing challenges head-on rather than denying them, Albania has proven that real progress comes from reform, not rhetoric.
Prime Minister Mickoski’s claim that North Macedonia is ahead of Albania in EU reforms is a demonstrably false narrative. The European Commission’s 2025 Enlargement Report provides clear evidence that Albania ranks higher in both progress and readiness for accession.
Instead of distorting the truth, North Macedonia’s leadership should take a lesson from Albania’s pragmatic approach: less propaganda, more reform.