Skopje, 29 June 2023 (MIA) – The Euro-integration of North Macedonia and the Western Balkans region, and the opportunities for economic progress, societal development as well as Germany’s open support in this field, was the focus of the expert discussion Thursday organized by the Friedrich Ebert foundation in Berlin, in which Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski participated as part of his two-day visit to the Federal Republic of Germany. 

According to a Government press release, the discussion was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European affairs, Bojan Marichikj, representatives of the German academic and nongovernmental community, as well as members of the German Bundestag, the German Federal Foreign Office and the Social Democratic Party of Germany. 

At the discussion, PM Kovachevski reaffirmed Germany’s role as a proven partner on North Macedonia’s EU path, saying the role is founded on three decades of developed bilateral relations, as well as Germany’s continuously objective approach and contribution to the development of North Macedonia.

According to the press release, at the meeting Kovachevski noted that the enlargement of the EU with the Western Balkan countries is not just a question of enlargement, but also a question of the geostrategic positioning of the region, in the context of Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine.

“The continuous development of friendly relations is also reflected in the economic cooperation and trade exchange between the two countries, which just in 2022 stood at EUR 3.2 billion. The cooperation is founded on important strategic investments, as well as on large production facilities opened in North Macedonia by German companies,” said the press release.

Moreover, the participants in the discussion also spoke about the EU’s support, more specifically, the financial support which through the IPA funds now stands at over EUR 1 billion, which, said the press release, affirms the EU’s position as the country’s largest donor. In the coming period, through the IPA III instrument, North Macedonia will have access to EUR 180 million until 2027, as well as EUR 97 million for agriculture through IPARD III.

“At the debate, Prime Minister Kovachevski hailed the role of the Friedrich Ebert foundation in North Macedonia and its active support for the reforms and the establishment of democracy in the country in the past 27 years,” said the press release. 

Photo: Government of North Macedonia