Skopje, 7 February 2025 (MIA) — Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani on a working visit to Athens met Friday with the Vice President of the Hellenic Parliament and Special Standing Committee on European Affairs chairman Ioannis Plakiotakis.

According to a press release from the Ministry of European Affairs, meeting participants stressed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy as an important instrument for deepening political dialogue and strengthening relations between North Macedonia and Greece. 

They discussed ways of boosting communication between the parliaments of North Macedonia and Greece as part of joint efforts to improving good neighborly relations.

Murtezani and Plakiotakis spoke about North Macedonia's EU path and the EU's enlargement policy, the release said.

"Minister Murtezani stressed the importance of maintaining the credibility of the accession process, especially in light of the challenges the country has been overcoming on its way toward the next phase of the negotiations," the release added. 

They also discussed the EU's Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and its mechanisms, with Murtezani expressing interest in cooperating with Greece in the area of ​​infrastructure connectivity and energy security.

The politicians also noted the importance of fulfilling both countries' commitments undertaken regarding bilateral issues subject to parliamentary procedure.

They agreed that a constructive approach and inclusive political dialogue remained crucial for mutual trust, better cooperation, and deepening the partnership between the countries. mr/