The European perspective of Northern Macedonia, good neighborly relations, regional initiatives and expectations in the forthcoming period, in anticipation of the December Councils, as an opportunity for a positive step in the next phase of the European integration process, was the focus of Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani. EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhei in Brussels.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the interlocutors referred to the findings of this year’s European Commission Report, which sent a strong and clear signal that the credibility of enlargement policy remains a key geostrategic investment in peace, stability, security and economic development throughout Europe.
The meeting reaffirmed the positive assessments of the EC for the country in terms of all parameters, including the unequivocal call to the member states, without further delay to conclude discussions on holding the first Intergovernmental Conference, which should be held as soon as possible..
During the meeting, they also talked about the latest internal political developments in the country, but also about the efforts in overcoming the differences between Bulgaria and Northern Macedonia, as a priority to unblock our path to the EU.
– The Government remains strongly committed to the reform agenda and European integration, with additional impetus and proactivity in the development of good neighborly relations, as a key added value in the development of regional stability. Enlargement policy is the best tool for fostering complex reforms and democratic consolidation, and its transformative power is based on the conditionality and objective evaluation of results in a process that reflects EU values. pointed out Osmani.
For his part, Varhei informed about the European Commission’s efforts to restore European momentum in the region, but also about the implementation of the Economic Investment Plan, which is a strong EU support for economic strengthening of the Western Balkans, enhanced regional cooperation and strengthened connections with EU.
During the day, Osmani will also meet with Andreas Schieder, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee between the Republic of Northern Macedonia and the EU, Ilhan Kucuk, Rapporteur for Northern Macedonia in the European Parliament, as well as with the Foreign Policy Advisers of the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the EC, Ursula von der Layen.
As part of today’s agenda, Osmani is scheduled to have an interview for the prestigious Brussels website “EU Observer” and for “Agency Europe”.