Skopje, 9 March 2023 (MIA) – The support provided by the EU will increase over time because the accession process concerns the implementation of reforms in many areas, said EU Ambassador David Geer on Thursday.

Ambassador Geer said that the support is of crucial importance for the citizens and companies, as well as for new investments.

In answer to a journalist’s question on the availability of pre-accession funds and how much money the country has received thus far, Geer said that support of around EUR 100 million is being offered on an annual basis, emergency aid for macro-financial support, as well as EUR 80 million for the energy package.

“We are talking about around EUR 100 million that cover many sectors, this figure will rise over time because, as you know, the accession process concerns the implementation of reforms in many areas, the country is harmonizing with the EU laws and standards, from agriculture to trade, customs, the rule of law. For example, when it comes to the environment, which is a really expensive area, our investments will increase over time in parallel with the country’s EU accession process, so that when it joins it will have finished the majority of the difficult tasks necessary to become a full-fledged EU member,” said Geer.

The EUR 80 million grant provided by the EU, he said, is practical financial aid that will make a difference in dealing with the crisis.

"The support will cover the most vulnerable categories, around 172,000 people, pensioners, single parents, unemployed people who need social protection, 47,000 vulnerable categories of citizens, 470 schools, 67 public utility enterprises, companies from the food industry, as well as healthcare institutions. These are not mere numbers but citizens, companies and institutions that deserve aid and which we all rely on," said Geer.

The EU support, he added, is accompanied by an action plan that should provide sustainable reforms in the energy sector, and it has to be fully implemented.

“These EUR 80 million are only a portion of a broader EU package for the Western Balkans. The majority of these funds are already available in support of investments in the green energy transition, which is becoming more and more urgent. This comes in addition to the funds provided by the EU for North Macedonia’s energy sector. These are not numbers but people, not abstract obligations but practical support for the creation of a green future, here, in the region, and in the EU, because energy connects us all, because we are a family and we are convinced that our joint future lies in the European Union,” said Geer. ad/ik/

Photo: Government of RNM