Skopje, 27 March 2024 (MIA) – The priorities that ensure reconciliation, regional cooperation and speeding up Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as strengthening democracy, fundamental rights and values, the rule of law, the fight against corruption, security and climate change were on the agenda of Wednesday's ministerial meeting in Skopje, Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj said after the meeting of Ministers for European Affairs from the countries participating in the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP).  

Participants in the meeting, Marichikj added, showed unity in the journey towards full-fledged EU membership, as well as strong support within the SEE2030 Strategy and the EC's Growth Plan on the path to accelerated EU integration of the entire region.  

"Our commitment is inviolable, and we will not give up on the European future, emboldened by the cooperation and friendship with the region, our neighbors and our partners. Encouraged by the messages from today's meeting, I believe that cooperation initiatives strengthen the foundation of a stable region and a stable Europe, on which the strong economic and social power at our disposal is built upon, and we can achieve this quickly. In Europe, we will be stronger, in unity, in the exchange of benefits and in facing the challenges," Marichikj pointed out. 

It is clear to all participants in the meeting, Marichikj added, that the implementation of the strategy and the Growth Plan require constant work, strong commitment and major effort.

-"We are in common agreement that today's focus must remain on fostering regional people-to-people ties and harnessing the enormous economic potential of our wider region," Marichikj noted. 

Economic integration and alignment with the single European market, Marichikj said, is the domain where focus must be unrelenting.

"Initiating reforms in key sectors for our regional economy, promoting trade and investing in regional connectivity will not only boost our economies, but also boost our socio-economic resilience," said Marichikj. 

He said that the participants in the meeting have adopted a joint statement by which countries participating in the SEECP that are EU member states offer their firm support to participants in the initiative that are not EU member states.

"We, the participants in the initiative, stand united in our support for direct benefits for all partners in the region through gradual integration enabling alignment with the EU single market, even during the enlargement process, not waiting on full-fledged membership," Marichikj said. 

As part of North Macedonia's Chairpersonship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA) organized on Wednesday a meeting of Ministers for European Affairs from the countries participating in the initiative.

North Macedonia assumed the Chairpersonship-in-Office of the SEECP for the period July 2023-June 2024 from Montenegro.

The presidency's motto is "Bridging Divides, Building Trust" focusing on reconciliation priorities, regional cooperation, and expediting Euro-Atlantic integrations.

The chosen motto “Bridging Divides, Building Trust” of the Chairpersonship-in-Office of the SEECP refers to enhancing reconciliation and trust-building, regional cooperation and accelerated EU integration.

Established in 1996, the SEECP represents the most comprehensive format in the region, encompassing all 13 countries of Southeast Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Croatia, Montenegro, Moldova, Slovenia, and Kosovo.

Photo: MIA