Skopje, 6 September 2021 (MIA) – Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, alongside Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi and Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi, met with a delegation of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on Monday, which is participating on Monday and Tuesday in the international conference on “Economic Recovery and Growth Beyond Covid”, organized by the Ministry of Finance. According to the Government, First Vice President of the EBRD, Jürgen Rigterink, who led the delegation which is currently in Skopje, accompanied by EBRD’s Director for North Macedonia, the Netherlands, China, Mongolia and Armenia, by Charlotte Ruhe, Managing Director for Central and South Eastern Europe, by Matteo Colangeli, Director for the Western Balkans region, Susan Goeransson, Director for the Municipal and Environmental Infrastructure team, and Andi Aranitasi, EBRD’s Head for North Macedonia,  expressed gratitude for the opportunity for this high-profile team of representatives to participate in the conference in Skopje, pointing out that EBRD has thus far invested EUR 2 billion in projects in the country, with over EUR 500 million in the last four years. Rigterink said such special interest by the EBRD is a result of the projects the country offered for support that were recognized as development projects, in accordance with Brussels’ policies for fulfilling the standards of EU candidate countries. PM Zaev expressed gratitude on behalf of the Government and the people of North Macedonia for the financial support to the Europeanization of the country in a wide array of areas, adding that the support has a very important place in the country’s economic and financial achievements, representing an acknowledgment of the country’s policies to stimulate growth according to European criteria. Zaev presented the country’s priorities for the coming period, particularly highlighting investments in energy capacities with renewable sources and in the country’s transition from fossil fuel to green energy, especially in solar power, wind turbines, as well as gasification and all its aspects. “EBRD’s delegation particularly approved of digitalization projects, especially in the part of strengthening the capacities of public administration and the judicial system in the fight against corruption, as well as the area of capital infrastructure projects within Corridor VIII,” the press release said. The EBRD’s delegation representatives said North Macedonia’s priorities put the country in a special place in the bank’s support policies. dk/nn