Skopje, 20 January 2022 (MIA) – Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski held Thursday a meeting with French Ambassador Cyrille Baumgartner at which it was noted that France and North Macedonia, after the 2020 meeting of French President Emmanuel Macron and former prime minister Zoran Zaev, have been writing a new chapter of cooperation. It is being reflected in the first investment into a solar park by Akuo Energy, estimated at more than EUR 270 million, the government said in a press release. It is the first French investment after 12 years. The French Development Agency in partnership with North Macedonia’s Development Bank is planning important investment projects to support the business sector, the local self-government, the civic sector as well as other sectors. “PM Kovachevski and Ambassador Baumgartner expressed readiness for cooperation in the coming months as regards the EU integration process of North Macedonia so as a visible progress to be made during the French EU presidency, which will bring the two countries closer to meeting the objective – the first intergovernmental conference, which marks the start of our country’s negotiations to join the Union,” said the government. Ambassador Baumgartner congratulated PM Kovachevski on being elected to helm the government and wished him success in implementing the program’s priorities, stated the press release.