site.btaNorth Macedonia's SDSM Urges PM to Clarify Whether Migrant Centres Were Discussed in UK

The opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) called on Thursday for Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski to clarify whether, during his visit to the United Kingdom, he agreed to the reception of migrants and the construction of migrant centres in North Macedonia. The appeal followed reports in British media suggesting that migration had been a key topic in Mickoski’s meetings with the UK government.

"According to the information we have from the United Kingdom, as well as what has been publicly reported by reputable British media, the focus of the government’s meetings was precisely this issue. Yet there is no clear information from our own government. This is a clear sign that something is once again being concealed," SDSM spokesperson Bogdanka Kuzeska said at a press conference.

She noted that Mickoski had refused to discuss the matter with The Times newspaper and had given only a brief comment to the Macedonian Radio and Television Service (MRT) the previous day. Citing information from London, Kuzeska said the United Kingdom was offering strategic investment to countries in the region, but that such offers were accompanied by talks and proposals for the establishment of migrant centres.

"Our government has been negotiating this type of loan and investment for almost a year and has already announced a EUR 7 billion loan from the United Kingdom. Mickoski can no longer hide and must now give a clear answer," Kuzeska said.

SDSM asked the government to specify exactly what was discussed regarding migrants and migrant centres and whether the loan agreement signed with the United Kingdom earlier this year included an additional arrangement related to migrants that had not been publicly disclosed.

Mickoski was on a two-day visit to the United Kingdom to attend the Western Balkans Summit under the Berlin Process, which he described as productive and full of meetings.

According to a statement from the North Macedonia Government Press Service issued late on Wednesday, the topic of illegal migration was among those discussed.

"In the field of illegal migration, our position is absolutely clear: in practice, we are protecting Europe from Europe, because migrants from EU member states are entering our country illegally. During the bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, I presented the idea that British experts and even police officers, members of the British army, would be welcome to work with us in protecting our south-eastern border from illegal migration and, in this way, to help protect Europe. I extended an open invitation," Mickoski was quoted as saying in the statement to MRT.