Venice, 10 June 2022 (MIA) — North Macedonia is a small country aspiring for EU membership, but we can be an essential piece of the EU mosaic, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi said at a Venice, Italy, business forum he is attending with Diaspora Minister Xhemail Cupi and local mayors and businessmen from both countries. According to Deputy PM Bytyqi, the European economic and energy crisis could be overcome only through joint efforts, cooperation and solidarity. During the business meetings, Api Nordest association president Munir Shemsi, who organized the forum, announced projects to build vocational schools for builders as well as medical workers. Venice Deputy Mayor Simone Venturini welcomed the Api project and expressed readiness for economic cooperation. Deputy PM Bytyqi presented the benefits of investing in North Macedonia, which he said had the best business environment in South-East Europe. “We are fully compliant with the EU directives,” Bytyqi noted. “The fact we are a NATO member indicates that we are a country for safe investment.” He also said Italy and North Macedonia were only 12 hours apart, so both road infrastructure and legal infrastructure should serve to connect the two countries’ companies. mr/