Skopje, 17 February 2023 (MIA) - The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has placed the support to the Re[public of North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU integration among its regional priorities. In this context, the government is putting all of its capacities at disposal and has secured funds and technical assistance to be used by North Macedonia's institutions, said Prime Minister Robert Golob at Friday's meeting with Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi, who is paying an official visit to Ljubljana.

Speaker Xhaferi saluted the traditional friendly relations and regular meetings at all levels, thanking PM Golob for the ongoing Slovenian police support at the southern border as part of the common operation for migration management, in line with the protocol the two countries have signed, the Parliament said in a press release.

Speaker Xhaferi and Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon welcomed North Macedonia's chairmanship with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and the open support for the realization of the country's priorities within these processes.

Xhaferi and Fajon stressed that the momentum to speed up the enlargement process as a result of the Ukraine developments should not be missed and that Slovenia would do everything in its power to keep up the pace, whereas candidate-states must continue to implement required reforms.

In addition, the Speaker has asked Slovenia to serve as a bridge between Bulgaria and North Macedonia within the EU, considering its regional insights and practical experience in overcoming open issues with neighbours prior and after EU accession, reads the press release.