On Tuesday, 23 July 2025, MEP Irena Joveva gave an open, emotional interview to the popular Macedonian magazine Ženski magazin, where she reflected on her roots, childhood, and personal journey from her  hometown of Jesenice to the halls of the European Parliament. In an honest and moving conversation, she also spoke about motherhood, political challenges, and the role of women in public life.

When asked about her childhood, she fondly recalled growing up in Jesenice – a place that remains close to her heart: “To me, it will always be the most beautiful town in the world,” she said, “precisely because of the memories I carry from those early years.” Raised in a close-knit housing estate, surrounded by families who had migrated from across the former Yugoslavia, she remembers a spirit of solidarity, where “neighbour stood by neighbour” wasn’t just a saying, but a way of life.

Proud of her heritage, Joveva emphasized that she has never been ashamed of her roots, her surname, or her family. She grew up between two cultures — Slovenian and Macedonian — and embraced both. For nearly a decade, she attended supplementary Macedonian language classes, and for almost twenty years she danced in a Macedonian folk group affiliated with the cultural association Ilinden, where she remains an active member.

Reflecting on her visits to North Macedonia, she said they were far more frequent during her childhood — unforgettable trips filled with warmth, genuine friendships, and even a first love. While her visits are now more occasional due to work and family responsibilities, she maintains strong ties with loved ones and continues to nurture her cultural roots.

Her recent speech in the European Parliament — in which she defended the Macedonian language and identity — resonated powerfully with audiences both in and outside Macedonia. She confessed that she had no expectations when she delivered the speech, nor did she seek attention:

“I simply said what should already be obvious to everyone,” she explained. Still, she was moved by the fact that her words reached not only those who supported her but also those who perhaps needed to hear them most.

As a woman in politics, Joveva has long faced prejudice and, at times, double standards. What frustrates her most is the fact that, even in 2025, the political sphere is still largely male-dominated — something she believes should no longer be the case: “The only things that should matter are one’s work and results, not gender,” she stated.

She has learned to live with public scrutiny — and has even come to expect targeted attacks and attempts to discredit her. What still hurts, though, are the attacks directed at her family:”Reading lies about myself doesn’t faze me anymore,” she admitted. “But when someone targets my family — that’s different. That cuts deep.”

One such moment came recently on social media, where she was mocked because of her parents’ professions.

“It hurt to see someone ridicule honest work — in this case, my parents’. I’m proud that my mother was a cleaner and my father worked in the steel industry. Nothing was handed to me, and even less to them. I am living proof that success doesn’t require connections — and certainly not shortcuts — just hard work and integrity.”

Although she generally follows parliamentary protocol, she admitted that at times she consciously breaks the rules — out of principle.“These days, it feels nearly impossible to remain ‘correct’ in a political system so often led by people whose values exist only on paper — stashed away in some forgotten drawer,” she said.

She recounted one such moment: standing in the European Parliament chamber, holding up a photograph of Yazan, a young boy who died as a result of hunger and genocide in Gaza. The image was shown for only a few seconds before she was warned to turn off her microphone — but the moment remains unforgettable:

“That surge of adrenaline — not just because the session was chaired by a German MEP — but because of the responsibility I felt in that moment. I knew I was on the right side of history.” “In such cases,” she continued, “it’s more ethical — in all its irony — to break the rules with your head held high than to nod along in silence. I am proud to give a voice to those who don’t have one, whenever I get the chance. That’s why I ended my recent address in the Macedonian language. If humanity has a price, I’ll pay it gladly.”

When asked about the greatest source of support in her life, she named her family — first and foremost, her late mother, whose presence continues to guide her every step: “She is still my greatest inspiration. I’ve never met — and probably never will meet — a stronger and more just person.” She added that her father’s steady support, her partner’s encouragement, and the presence of her young daughter Mila — “a source of strength she doesn’t even realize she holds yet” — have all shaped her path.

When asked what she would change for women in Europe if given the chance, she didn’t name a specific policy or law, but rather a shift in mindset:

“Less envy, more empathy. Less pressure to look or be perfect. And the understanding that you don’t need an ‘Instagram body’ to be worthy.”

She admitted that appearances have never been of great importance to her — though she understands how social expectations can shape public perception:

“Personally, I couldn’t care less what someone is wearing. But I do get it — there’s a widespread belief that people trust someone more if they’re wearing a blazer or a suit rather than a sweater and jeans. I remember as a kid, people always noticed who wore something new. I never did. Because clothes, material things — they never really mattered to me.”

Toward the end of the interview, Joveva shared a tender reflection on her late mother’s cooking — and her regret at not having written down more of her treasured recipes:

“It’s something I’ll never forgive myself for. Back then, we didn’t have smartphones to record everything. And I was just a teenager, not yet aware of what it would mean to carry her culinary legacy forward in today’s chaotic life.”

With a warm smile, she added: “Let professional chefs forgive me — but my mom was the best cook in the world. My favorite Macedonian dish? Tavče gravče. She made it perfectly. I’m not there yet. But one day, I hope to be.”

You can read the entire interview at the following link.

What we are witnessing is not patriotic —it is a series of unnecessary and harmful provocations that run counter to the spirit of the European Union.

It is natural for every country to take pride in its history, language, symbols, and traditions. That cultural richness is a cornerstone of Europe’s diversity and shared identity. But historical facts are clear—and so are their often painful consequences. Precisely because of this, at a time when Europe is increasingly confronted with dangerous nationalist tendencies, historical distortion, and divisive rhetoric, we must demonstrate greater political maturity and responsibility.

There is no place in Europe for one-sided provocations that deepen mistrust and sow division within the European community.

This is not merely a matter of symbolism. The impact is most acutely felt by the Slovene minority in Austria, which has long—and rightfully—voiced concern about its increasingly precarious position.

We believe that such actions by certain Austrian politicians represent a step backward. And we are convinced there are better, more constructive ways to express one’s patriotism.

Europe cannot—and must not—become an arena for competing, aggressive interpretations of the past. The European project is built on cooperation, mutual respect, and shared responsibility. Provocations that serve narrow domestic political interests at the expense of our common European future have no place in the Union—a Union founded precisely to prevent territorial ambitions and hostile nationalism from ever taking root again.

Today, 15 February 2022, MEP Irena Joveva attended the Think and Speak Up! event, which addressed the issue of low levels of active citizenship among young people, one of the biggest problems facing modern democracies. She spoke with secondary school students from Gimnazija Ravne na Koroškem, and the project was organised by the IPM Academy in cooperation with Slovenian secondary schools.

During the debate, Joveva listened to the ideas of young people, who took the role of decision-makers and presented their proposals for action in the field of youth policies, with the aim of implementing the EU Youth Strategy 2021-2027. The event was also attended by the Mayor of Ravne na Koroškem, Tomaž Rožen.

Students presented ideas and solutions in three strands: sustainable green Europe and rural development, quality jobs and quality learning, and gender equality and mental health.

In the first part, students addressed the challenges in the fields of energy, investment in public transport and the need for higher taxes on polluters. In the area of development steps for rural youth, they highlighted, among other things, the desire for better transport infrastructure, modernisation of schools and active state support for local farmers.

In response to their suggestions, the MEP described the measures proposed by the students as very realistic, noting that most of them are already being implemented. She introduced the students to the European Green Deal and the 2050 climate neutrality target, and explained the importance of the taxonomy or classification of green investments, pointing out that despite the inclusion of nuclear energy in the taxonomy, the future lies in truly green investments such as wind and solar energy. She spoke about a cross-border carbon mechanism which would ensure that also non-EU producers pay for pollution, and touched on the Recovery and Resilience Fund, the Common Agricultural Policy and the importance of digitisation.

In the second strand, young people focused on quality jobs and quality learning. They proposed setting up non-formal learning communities at the local level. In addition, they stressed the importance of creating more jobs for young people and the need for fair pay and payment for overtime.

The MEP commented that the areas of education and employment are most effectively regulated at local and national level, as they fall under the competence of the Member States. She supports the idea of the young that holiday work and work placements could also count towards years of service. A related topical issue, she pointed out, is an amendment to the EU Youth Strategy that would ban unpaid work placements, which is expected to be adopted this week in the EP Plenary. She also touched on the minimum wage and the problem of precarious work, stressing that the key solution in this respect lies with employers.

In the final strand, students focused on gender equality and mental health and well-being. Most of them agreed that the ubiquitous stigma and stereotypes associated with this topic are still a major problem.

“What is needed is a change to the mindset. And this will happen with the next generations.”

Concluding her remarks, the MEP assured the young audience that she understood that politicians often get on their nerves, but impressed upon them that this is not always justified, because not everyone is the same, and she therefore disapproved of generalisations. She thanked the participants for their suggestions and the solutions they offered and encouraged them to remain active and curious.