Skopje, 16 March 2023 (MIA) - The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell will be in North Macedonia on 16-17 March.

On 16 March, he will meet with Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski, before leading the EU delegation at the 16th EU-North Macedonia Stabilisation and Association Council on Friday, 17 March.

North Macedonia will chair the Council this time and will be represented by Prime Minister Kovachevski. Commissioner Várhelyi will represent the European Commission.

The Council will be followed by a joint press conference at around 11:30.

During his visit, HR/VP Borrell will hold a number of bilateral meetings, including with President Stevo Pendarovski, Minister of Defence, Slavjanka Petrovska and the Speaker, Deputy Speakers, Political Party Coordinators & Chairs of the National Council for European Integration - Committee on European Affairs of the Parliament of North Macedonia.

Borrell visited Albania before arriving to the country, where he met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama before chairing the 12th EU-Albania Stabilisation and Association Council in Tirana on 16 March.

These visits will be an opportunity to review EU-Albania and EU-North Macedonia bilateral relations under their respective Stabilisation and Association Agreements, and to discuss recent developments in both countries and in the Western Balkans. It is the first time ever the respective Stabilisation and Association Councils are taking place in Tirana and Skopje.

On Saturday 18 March, High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell will travel to Ohrid where Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski is to host the meeting between President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti as part of Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue.

Photo: MIA archive