site.btaNorth Macedonia's Security Council Discusses Global Security Challenges, Wildfires, and European Integration

North Macedonia's National Security Council convened on Friday to discuss global security challenges and their impact on the country and the region, climate change and wildfires, as well as the country’s European integration following the European Parliament reports on the progress of North Macedonia towards EU membership. The meeting was chaired by President Gordana Siljanovska.

The meeting was announced on Thursday, without specifying the agenda. Earlier on Friday, North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski suggested that the upcoming local elections in the autumn might be on the table for discussion. According to Siljanovska, this topic was not raised during the session.

The meeting lasted over two and a half hours, after which Siljanovska told the media that the general conclusion was that "the security situation in the country is stable, fully under control, and no serious threats are expected." 

Siljanovska said that the discussion on European integration focused on the necessary reforms, development plans, and aligning the country’s legislation with EU standards.

The meeting also addressed measures concerning the wildfires that North Macedonia continues to face each year. Siljanovska mentioned that there are well-founded suspicions that some of the fires may have been intentionally started. She added that measures include improved monitoring through cameras and drones.

The statutory members of North Macedonia’s National Security Council are President of the Assembly Afrim Gashi, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Interior Minister Pance Toskovski, Defence Minister Vlado Misajlovski, Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski, analyst Xhevdet Hajredini, expert on European integration Malinka Ristevska-Jordanova, and expert on climate change Vlado Spiridonov. Attending the meeting were also National Security Agency Director Bojan Hristovski, Intelligence Agency Director Gabriela Yakovleva, and Director of the Protection and Rescue Directorate Stojance Angelov.