Skopje, 29 March 2022 (MIA) – North Macedonia’s Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi met Tuesday with the Vice-President of the French National Assembly, Laëtitia Saint-Paul, who is taking part in the Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments (EUSC) on behalf of Speaker Richard Ferrand, representing the country currently holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Parliament said in a press release. Speaker Xhaferi extended gratitude for France’s support over the past years, including both support at a parliamentary level and the active commitment of the MPs of the National Assembly and the Senate for the country’s European integration process. He praised the decision to hold a Conference on the Western Balkans in June this year, as a good opportunity for member states to maintain direct communication and dialogue, and exchange views on current developments with countries in the region. “As regards our two strategic commitments set upon the independence, NATO membership is today our reality and our troops actively participate in the Alliance’s peacekeeping missions, and we are looking ahead top getting a date to start EU accession negotiations,” Speaker Xhaferi stressed. The Parliament Speaker urged to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania sooner, so as to maintain public support and prevent external influences that could damage the process. “Vice-President Saint-Paul praised active cooperation at a parliamentary level, particularly efforts made by MP Liliane Tanguy to promote bilateral relations and share French experience on European issues. She expressed satisfaction with North Macedonia’s alignment with the positions of the European Union, especially on Ukraine, as well as the sharing of common European values,” reads the press release. Saint-Paul showed particular interest in the country’s position on the new negotiating methodology, current developments with Bulgaria, and expectations from the conference on the Western Balkans in June this year, voicing optimism on further promoting cooperation between the two countries and the process of European integration.