Skopje, 28 December 2021 (MIA) – Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi and former finance ministers launched an initiative to set up a Council as an expert body that is to be part of Skopje Economic Finance Forum (SEFF) and address current issues and topics that require consensus in society. According to the Ministry of Finance, the initiative came from an end-of-year meeting between Minister Besimi and former finance ministers including Xhevdet Hajredini, Taki Fiti, Nikola Popovski, Zoran Stavreski, Trajko Slaveski and Kiril Minoski. The Council of former finance ministers will be a body that operates as part of SEFF throughout the year, addressing issues and topics that are important for the country’s economic development. The role of the Council is to provide a solid basis to the Forum in building credible economic policies through an inclusive and transparent process. Paricipants at the end-of-year meeting exchanged views on the economic perspectives, as well as current issues and challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy crisis, global stock market pressure, and the need for economic growth, reads the press release.