Brussels, 26 October 2023 (MIA) - EU member-states offer strong and unequivocal support for the continuation and rapid progress of our EU negotiations, Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj said on Thursday after the briefing with the working group of the Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession to the EU (COELA) in Brussels.

"We are working to bring EU values and benefits closer to the citizens, is the message I expressed today   during the meeting with COELA delegates. We are making joint efforts, during the Spanish presidency, for the process to enter a new advanced phase and for North Macedonia to continue towards full EU membership," Marichikj wrote in a Facebook post.

EU member-states representatives in the working group of the Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession to the EU (COELA) confirmed the strong and unequivocal support for the continuation and rapid progress of North Macedonia's EU negotiations process, the Secretariat for European Affairs said in a Thursday press release.

In addition to the brief presentation on the screening process and expectations, the Deputy PM followed up on the preparation and content of strategic documents, roadmaps, judiciary reforms and the fight against crime and corruption.

He also discussed the public opinion of Macedonian citizens on the negotiations process, and pointed out that speeding up the process and offering tangible results, even before official EU membership, is the best mechanism for restoring confidence in the accession negotiations and the rapid development of North Macedonia.

In response to a question by COELA delegates, Marichikj spoke about the situation with Bulgaria, commitment to good neighborly relations and cooperation with the aim of strengthening regional stability, as a prerequisite for progress to full-fledged EU membership.

He also highlighted the challenges the government faces in fulfilling obligations arising from the June 2022 conclusions of the European Council. In addition, Marichikj pointed out that success in negotiations with EU requires a constructive dialogue and consensus from everyone involved, adding that soon every single political stakeholder will understand the importance and urgency of keeping the accession negotiations.

Earlier on Thursday, Marichikj attended the bilateral screening meeting on Chapter 13 - "Fisheries" with focus on the development of policies and the degree of alignment of Macedonian fisheries with EU legislation.

The Deputy PM is on a working visit in Brussels, and was taking part of the Global Gateway Forum, where he addressed a leaders session on education and research titled "Stronger Together through Sustainable Investment," and met with European Commission representatives to discuss the current political situation in North Macedonia, screening process, expectations before the publication of the Progress Report, EU's dedication to create a suitable environment for its expansion by 2030, and its readiness to advance North Macedonia's negotiations process in the future, which will provide clear and visible results when approaching the block.

MIA's Brussels correspondent informs that within the past two days, Marichikj met with European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, Director General at the Directorate General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Gert Jan Koopman, and European Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, and on Tuesday with Deputy Managing Director of the European External Action Service for the Western Balkans (EEAS), Marko Makovec, President of the European Council Charles Michel, and Foreign Policy Advisor of the President of the European Council, Simon Mordue.

"North Macedonia has a place in the EU, now is the moment to speed up the accession process. With the new EU plan for accelerated integration of the Western Balkans, the message is clear that the region must quickly prepare for EU membership and with concrete steps move towards full integration," Marichikj said. ssh/sk/

Photo: Facebook