The European Union is leaving the door open to Chinese and Russian strategic encroachment in the Balkans because of its abject failure to engage and invest in the region, the president of Macedonia has told the Telegraph.

President Gjorge Ivanov said that the EU was stuck in a 20th-century mindset and petty internal squabbles had left it unable to meet the challenges of the current century, from mass migration to digital crime bosses and a revanchist Russia.

“Until recently, we haven’t seen any Russian investment in Macedonia. But as Europe is withdrawing - or rather not keeping its promises about making the Balkans part of the European Union - it’s like a call from the EU to come and fill in that space,” he warned.

Mr Ivanov cited the failure of Europe to channel investment into an east-west infrastructure corridor connecting the Adriatic and Black seas as an example of EU short-sightedness, as it focused instead on a north-south corridor connecting Greece and Serbia.

“Now we arrive at the situation where we are using Chinese money and credits to build a European corridor transiting the territory of Macedonia. This is the paradox. This is what I mean when I talk about Europe is withdrawing. It’s like a call to China,” he added.