Adoption of the negotiating framework and the first intergovernmental conference, expected to take place by the end of the year, will wrap up the country’s historic achievements after being approved to open EU accession talks and joining NATO, Deputy PM for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov said at an online meeting with the ambassadors of EU member countries to North Macedonia.

The EU’s values and principles depend on how the bloc will treat the right to self-determination of the Macedonian nation, according to him

“How the European Union will handle this matter – the right of the Macedonian nation to self-determination – will determine whether we could continue to perceive the Union as a community of values and principles,” Dimitrov stated regarding the challenges the country is facing ahead of holding the first intergovernmental conference.

The meeting was initiated by EU Ambassador David Geer after the release of this year’s European Commission report in North Macedonia and the enlargement package, the Secretariat for European Affairs said.

Dimitrov said the report offered an unbiased and comprehensive assessment of the country’s progress, identifying the areas that need to be targeted by reforms with an emphasis on the areas noted in the first cluster on fundamentals.

The Deputy also mentioned the measures taken by the government to improve the IPA structure, namely the capacities for absorption of EU funds, said the press release.