The Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, today met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who is in a one-day working visit to our country.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev welcomed President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, accompanied by the Head of the EU Delegation to North Macedonia, Ambassador David Geer, after which a bilateral meeting was held where Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani and Minister of Defence Radmila Sekerinska took part.

Prime Minister Zaev and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen visited the Youth Cultural Centre in Skopje, which has been renovated with funds from the European Union, and observed the exhibition on the benefits of the Youth Guarantee, a project which is implemented in North Macedonia as the only non-EU country that covered 60,000 young people with the purpose of reducing unemployment among this population.

During the visit, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced the delivery of the first tranche of 2.6 million euros, of a total of 15 million euros, for budgetary support to our country for policies on youth education and employment.

At the press conference that was held in the concluding part of the agenda of the one-day visit of the President of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, to our country, Prime Minister Zaev highlighted that the Republic of North Macedonia remains strongly committed to its EU path.

“We have made all the necessary steps and reforms and will make the additional acceptable ones for unblocking the EU enlargement. We hope that EU member states as well will implement the declaration from Brdo-Kranj of the Slovenian Presidency that they remain committed to EU enlargement with the Western Balkan countries,” said Prime Minister Zaev.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the press conference expressed words of praise for the efforts made by North Macedonia for the reforms related to the EU.

“You have made exceptional progress and have made courageous decisions. You have delivered and now the EU must deliver. The future of North Macedonia will be European. The European Commission stands firm to this commitment,” stressed the President of the European Commission at a press conference, with which she concluded her one-day visit to our country.

Translation: N. Cvetkovska