Skopje, 22 September 2023 (MIA) - Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj in a statement in New York following his meetings with the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues, Miroslav Lajčák, and the US Deputy Assistant Secretary and Special Representative to the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said that our strategic partners are acting for North Macedonia's progress towards the EU and that they expect us to fulfill the European agenda, to maintain the dynamics and activity of EU accession negotiations.

“The messages were unequivocal, together we need to show that we want and have the capacity to fulfill our strategic goal, and the United States of America will be a vocal supporter of our EU integration,” Marichikj said, adding that the political dialogue, the will and the responsibility of all, on which the certainty of our European perspective depends, remain crucial for the constitutional amendments and the entire negotiation process.

Marichikj stated that concrete steps are being taken to bring the region closer to real membership in the EU and that they await the new growth plan for the Western Balkans in the following weeks, which by accelerating the fundamental reforms will not only speed up the accession process, but will also encourage economic growth, for greater economic integration with the European Union's single market.

“The EU has a plan that opens the doors for accelerated membership, the partners expect us to seize the opportunity and not stay at the door, but to be a future EU member state,” Marichikj underlined.

Photo: Secretariat for European Affairs