Skopje, 16 October 2023 (MIA) – Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj met with Michael Roth, the Chair of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee on the sidelines of the Civil Society Forum held in Tirana.

Marichikj and Roth discussed the European perspective of the region, the new plan for speeding up EU accession negotiations and the importance of fostering regional cooperation in the coming period, the Secretariat for European Affairs said in a press release.

The message of the meeting is that the EU plan means rapid reforms that will mean rapid progress on the EU path and that the EU offers the opportunity to have some benefits from membership even before that, with certain obligations, which is a unique opportunity, reads the press release.

According to Marichikj, only together, with enhanced engagement and cooperation, the Western Balkans and the EU, we can build a Europe that is safe, that is progressing and developing.

During the meeting, Marichikj said that the government is making efforts to maintain the dynamics of the process and for North Macedonia to continue the negotiations with the neighbouring countries, whereat the German support is significantly important.

Roth underlined that it is important for the stability of the entire region that North Macedonia fulfils its obligations and remains active in the negotiation process, pointing out that setting a date is a clear signal that the EU aims for 2030 to be the year for new enlargement.

Ahead of the Berlin Process Summit which is to take place Monday, Marichikj and Roth also discussed the need for greater focus on regional cooperation, which should accelerate regional development and the process of integration in a single market.

The Berlin process is entering a new phase and is expected to greatly contribute to the acceleration of the EU integration in the region.

Berlin Process Leaders’ Summit begins Monday in Tirana, hosted by Albanian PM Edi Rama, at which Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj will participate as part of the Macedonian delegation led by Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski.

Photo: Secretariat for European Affairs