Skopje, 8 July 2022 (MIA) – Our cooperation is concrete, for a strong economic region ready for membership in the European Union, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić and Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama concurred at Friday’s online meeting focused on boosting cooperation to jointly overcome difficulties in terms of food and energy supply, as well as joint response to possible fire outbreaks in the three countries this summer. The leaders agreed to set up mixed working groups on crisis topics with the aim of creating joint agency for attracting foreign investments in the Open Balkan, the Government said in a press release. Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj, Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi, National Coordinator for Open Balkan Marjan Zabrchanec, Power Plants of North Macedonia director Vasko Kovachevski and President of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia Branko Azeski also attended the meeting. At the beginning of the meeting PM Kovachevski thanked for President Vučić and PM Rama’s open support regarding the modified European proposal, briefing interlocutors that the draft-negotiating framework for the Republic of North Macedonia with the European Union, presented by the French EU Presidency, has been forwarded by the Government to the Parliament to adopt conclusions in compliance with the parliamentary procedures. Rama and Vučić, adds the press release, reiterated their support for the activities taken by PM Kovachevski, i.e. the launch of broad consultations with all stakeholders in the country, underlining that the European future of the region is the only good option for the citizens of North Macedonia, Albania and Serbia. Open Balkan leaders stressed the importance of the activities taken in terms of regional connectivity and enabling the free movement of people, capital, goods and services, which already provides economic benefits for all citizens. The leaders concluded that preparations run smoothly for the wine, food and tourism fair in Serbia, where wineries and producers from the three countries will have the opportunity to present their products to visitors from the region and Europe. In addition, interlocutors agreed a meeting of the working group, which will be held in Tirana in mid-July, and which is to focus on cooperation in the area of energy, food security and finance. Last week, the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia invited wine producers and wineries from the region to register by July 11 for participation in the first international wine fair “Wine Vision by Open Balkan”, which will be held September 1-4 in Belgrade under the auspices of the Open Balkan initiative. The previous meeting of the leaders of the three countries as part of the Open Balkan initiative was held last month in Ohrid, and it was also attended by Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazović and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zoran Tegeltija.