Skopje, 19 April 2023 (MIA) - North Macedonia's European perspective requires the commitment and support of all political stakeholders in the country. The Euro-Atlantic development of the Republic of North Macedonia is a factor of stability for the entire region and for Europe, concurred Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski and German Ambassador to North Macedonia Petra Drexler at a meeting on Wednesday. 

 

The two expressed commitment to further active development of the Macedonian-German partnership, which has been longstanding and strong, and this year marks 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the Government said in a press release. 

Participants in the meeting discussed several current issues of importance for the country and the region, as well as promoting the excellent economic cooperation between North Macedonia and Germany, and the challenges in terms of the European and geopolitical context. Clear German support was conveyed for the next step in the country's European integration, reads the press release. 

 

 

 

 

Kovachevski noted that Germany is North Macedonia's important partner since its independence, a NATO ally, an ally in the UN and the OSCE, one of the strongest supporters of the country's European Union integration, and in terms of economy, it is the first trading partner in recent years, with the largest volume of trading last year, of about EUR 5 billion, the fifth foreign direct investor and one of the largest bilateral development partners of North Macedonia.

"With Germany's active and continuous support, which gained additional importance during the German EU Presidency in 2020, we made a historic step forward in European integration, after 17 years of status quo as a candidate country, and we started EU accession negotiations last July. Today's support and encouragement that we receive from Germany for the continuation of European integrations is of exceptional importance. Germany is a friendly country that is highly valued by our citizens. As a Government, we will take all necessary political steps to ensure European future," PM Kovachevski said. 

Interlocutors stressed the significance of the Berlin Process, as the basic and comprehensive driving force of regional cooperation at the highest level in the area of ​​establishing a common regional market in the Western Balkans and the Green Agenda, highlighting the role of the Republic of North Macedonia as a promoter of dialogue and the culture of dialogue in the region.