Skopje, 24 July 2021 (MIA) – Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov on Saturday as part of the informal meeting in Brdo pri Kranju held several separate meetings with EU ministers for European affairs and foreign affairs, who as General Affairs Council representatives have been discussing and deciding as regards the enlargement policy. The meeting with French Minister for European Affairs Clément Beaune is considered strong affirmation of France’s support for the opening of EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia and recognition of the country’s results delivered in meeting the required conditions, said the Secretariat for European Affairs. At a meeting with Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn it was concluded that it is high time that challenges are addressed and that hurdles on the EU path are removed to allow strengthened commitment to the reform agenda, which is the essence of the accession process. At a meeting with Malta’s GAC official Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, Deputy PM Dimitrov said that there are possibilities to further strengthen the countries’ cooperation. The Malta official expressed unwavering support for North Macedonia’s full-fledged membership in the EU. Also, Dimitrov met with Finnish Tytti Tuppurainen, who stressed that the European perspective of North Macedonia and the region must be completed. He also met with Lithuania’s Deputy Minister of European Affairs Arnoldas Pranckevičius, who also reaffirmed that the country is ready to start negotiating. Dimitrov’s agenda of bilateral talks was concluded with a meeting with Swedish EU Affairs Minister Hans Dahlgren. He welcomed the country for its strong commitment to implementing the European agenda, saying Sweden supports North Macedonia by providing assistance in key areas, said the press release.