Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset praised North Macedonia during his official visit, expressing he was “really impressed” by the country’s achievements in recent decades. Following a meeting with Foreign Minister Timço Mucunski on May 8, 2026, Berset emphasized North Macedonia’s crucial role in building democratic stability and sustainability across the region and Europe amid current geopolitical challenges. He welcomed cooperation on artificial intelligence, Ukraine support, and minority rights, particularly the swift adoption of the Action Plan on Minorities. During the visit, North Macedonia signed the Council of Europe Convention on Artificial Intelligence, the first binding international instrument establishing principles for safe and ethical AI use.
In-Depth:
Berse: Macedonia has an important role for stability and democratic sustainability in the region and Europe
Macedonia
Express newspaper
08/05/2026 15:42
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, during his official visit to the Republic of North Macedonia, after yesterday’s meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timço Mucunski, expressed satisfaction with the cooperation so far with the counattempt and emphasized the significant progress that the counattempt has achieved in recent decades, Portalb.mk reports.
In his speech, the Secretary-General indicated that he was “really impressed” by North Macedonia’s achievements, emphasizing that the Council of Europe has always been a partner and supporter of the counattempt in strengthening democracy.
He emphasized the important role of the Republic of North Macedonia in building democratic stability and sustainability in the region and Europe, especially in the face of current geopolitical and security challenges.
“In such geopolitical circumstances, trust in democratic institutions is absolutely essential, not only for member states, but also for the stability of Europe as a whole,” Berset emphasized, adding that security and stability are only possible through strong and functional institutions.
The Secretary General also welcomed cooperation with North Macedonia in several areas, including artificial innotifyigence, support for Ukraine and the promotion of minority rights, and particularly welcomed the swift adoption of the Action Plan on Minorities. At the same time, Berset assessed that North Macedonia’s upcoming chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe represents an additional confirmation of the counattempt’s role and importance within the European family.
Otherwise, with the presence of Secretary Berset, North Macedonia signed today the Council of Europe Convention on Artificial InnotifyigenceThe Convention, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in May 2024, is the first binding international instrument setting out principles and standards for the safe, ethical and responsible apply of artificial innotifyigence.
