Skopje, 16 May 2023 (MIA) - Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi met Tuesday with MEPs Andreas Schieder, Marion Walsmann, Alexander Yordanov, Bogdan Rzońca and Thijs Reuten, who are taking part in a two-day meeting of the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

MP Sonja Mirakovska, co-chair of the committee, EU Ambassador David Geer and the Parliament's Secretary-General Cvetanka Ivanova also attended the meeting, the Parliament said in a press release. 

Xhaferi expressed satisfaction that the Parliament is hosting the 21st Meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, as well as assurance that during the next two working days the MPs and MEPs will have a successful exchange of views on several topics related to the country's European integration. 

"As regards the Resolution on North Macedonia's progress for 2022, which should be adopted in the European Parliament, he expressed the expectation that it would be objective and contain the country's progress tied to the Copenhagen criteria. He said that the screening process is at an advanced stage and that the roadmaps that will emerge from the process are expected, which the state is ready to fulfill at the highest level. He stressed that there's commitment to domestic reforms related to the EU chapters and the EU acquis, and full alignment with the EU's foreign and security policy has been achieved in terms of the sanctions against Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine," reads the press release. 

The Parliament Speaker also mentioned the country's OSCE Chairmanship, pointing out it is a great honor and responsibility. 

Co-chair of the Joint Parliamentary Committee Andreas Schieder said that relations with North Macedonia are very important welcomed the country's decision to continue on the European path. He pointed out that membership in the Union implies numerous reforms and welcomed the fulfillment of everything that has been achieved so far, adding that more can always be done.

Schieder stressed the importance of unity between the ruling majority and the opposition on the path to the European Union and expressed the hope that during the work of the Joint Parliamentary Committee it will be demonstrated that the European path for North Macedonia is possible and that the MEPs are here to make the membership a reality as soon as possible.

Photo: Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia