Skopje, 11 December 2023 (MIA) - The European Union membership will bring practical and tangible benefits in all areas - energy resilience, environment protection, improvement of air quality, economic well-being and better standard of life, said EU Ambassador David Geer in his video-address at the final event of campaign "We Are Europe" in Kumanovo on Monday.

Ambassador Geer said energy is crucial in the fight against climate change and renewables are the central element of the European Green Deal, noting that the resilience of the energy sector is becoming increasingly important considering the energy crisis caused by the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

He added that diversification of energy sources and reducing dependency from fossil fuels is becoming mandatory across the EU but in the Western Balkans as well.

"We play a central role in building a safer, a more reliable, green energy future for this country. The EU is already helping the construction of infrastructure for transport of gas as transitional fuel, through the interconnector with Greece and the connectors with Kosovo and Serbia. The EU is investing in power grids for the purpose of ensuring exchange of electricity with Albania and Bulgaria. The EU is helping in repurposing power stations in Oslomej and Bitola from coal into renewables," said Geer.

He noted that North Macedonia's existing wind and hydro capacities are being upgraded, whereas the EU is providing support to private investors such as those in the Bogoslovec Wind Park.

The Union is also supporting the revision of the legislation that should result in cleaner and more available energy for households, companies, schools and hospitals.

"We are helping because we depend on from one another and because we want this country to become part of the EU, because we want to help it prepare for EU membership. The road to the EU is one of reforms. Implementation of those reforms requires unity and commitment. The goal of membership is real and achievable," said Geer.

As a result of EU regulations, he added, Malta, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania have seen a sharp drop in the sulfur dioxide emissions from 85 to 99 percent in the first 10-15 years since accession.

"Thanks to access to the structural funds, Bulgaria implemented environmental projects worth nearly EUR 2 billion in the early years of accession. Thanks to this support, the country has managed to solve some of its most serious environmental challenges. Thanks to the EU Cohesion Fund, Poland increased its GDP by 49 percent in ten years after accession... In the future, we want North Macedonia to be another positive example of the effects of enlargement," underlined Geer.

German Ambassador Petra Drexler said the eyes of the world are currently focused on Dubai and COP28, where heads of state and government, ministers are fighting for the future of our planet and the gradual elimination of fossil fuels.

Ambassador Drexler said fighting climate change is a priority of the German foreign policy.

"We must shift our course and stop global warming by 1.5 degrees, and we can do this by doubling energy efficiency by 2030 and tripling energy production from renewables," said Drexler.

Campaign "We Are Europe", headed by Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj, has visited eight cities across the country, focusing on EU membership through various topics.

Photo: MIA