In a couple of interviews in Germany, Zoran Zaev and Nikola Dimitrov announce that they expect Macedonia to become a member of the European Union between 2025 and 2030.

In his Handelsblatt interview, Zaev moves to assure the German public that Macedonia will likely not become a member of the EU before 2030 and is simply asking to begin the procedure this year.

I expect clear and positive conclusions which will determine that we can begin accession talks this year, and that would serve as additional motivation to reform North Macedonia. My dream is that we become members by 2025 or 2030. I don’t know. It’s a question of when will we be ready for Europe and when Europe is ready for us. Both sides matter, Zaev told the German newspaper.

Zaev acknowledges that Macedonia will likely join NATO this year, but adds that the desire for membership of the EU is much stronger. “We love Europe, we believe in Europe and we want to be part of Europe”, he tells Handelsblatt.