Skopje, 3 April 2024 (MIA) – North Macedonia’s further progress in the EU integration process, deemed as being vital for the perspectives of the citizens in the country and also in regional and geopolitical context, was the focal point of Wednesday’s meeting of caretaker Prime Minister Talat Xhaferi with Dutch MEP Tineke Strik. 

This is Xhaferi’s second meeting with Strik in his capacity as prime minister following his first visit to the European institutions in Brussels on February 14, the government said in a press release.

MEP Strik is part of the Greens/European Free Alliance Group and a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee. 

Strong support for the European path of the country to resume after the elections was stressed in the meeting.

North Macedonia, Xhaferi said, is in a key moment in the democratic development and the presidential and parliamentary elections will determine the direction of the country, which is being followed with interest in the region and in Europe. 

He noted the government has been taking all the steps in line with its responsibilities to make sure all relevant institutions can organize fair and democratic elections with full legitimacy. 

Welcoming the progress of North Macedonia and the successfully completed screening process, MEP Strik stressed the urgency and importance of resuming the path from a geopolitical aspect and of using the positive momentum and the wide support for the EU enlargement. 

“At the same time, she called on North Macedonia after completing the elections and the formation of the Parliament and the government to accelerate efforts to adopt the constitutional changes and fulfill the reform agenda and to conclude the accession to the EU together with the neighbors,” said the press release. 

They also discussed the importance of the Western Balkans Growth Plan and its passage in the European Parliament as well as ways for strengthening the country’s overall cooperation with the European Parliament. 

Photo: Government of the Republic of North Macedonia