Skopje, 16 October 2024 (MIA) – Parliament Speaker and head of the delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Afrim Gashi, met Wednesday with the Vice President of the European Parliament (EP), Nicolae Ștefănuță, during the 149th Assembly of the IPU, which is being held from October 13-17, in Geneva, Switzerland.

During the meeting, they discussed cooperation between the two parliaments and the current challenges in the country’s Euro-integration process.

“Vice President Ștefănuță conveyed greetings from the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and highlighted that the EP is closely following the situation in the Republic of North Macedonia. He expressed his satisfaction that we have a stable government and a stable majority in parliament, considering it a significant factor in the country's integration process. Additionally, he highlighted that there are numerous supporters of our EU integration in the European Parliament, particularly among MEPs from the surrounding region who comprehend the importance and sensitivity of the issue,” Parliament said in a press release.

Gashi expressed satisfaction with the holding of the meeting in the new parliamentary composition, both in the Parliament and the European Parliament, and emphasized that it is very important for us to maintain close cooperation with the EU and the European Parliament, considering the strategic commitment to join the EU as soon as possible.

In regard to the condition for constitutional amendments, Gashi expressed confidence that this issue can be resolved with goodwill and a positive attitude. Given the commitment we have already fulfilled, he noted, we anticipate greater predictability in the process, as stated in the press release.

The interlocutors agreed that meetings between representatives of the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia and the European Parliament should be intensified in the coming period. To this end, Gashi extended an invitation to Vice President Ștefănuță to visit our country in the near future.

Gashi held a brief meeting with the President of the IPU, Tulia Ackson, during which they exchanged views on the key role of parliaments in promoting global peace and development. The need for ongoing engagement aimed at strengthening democratic institutions was emphasized, through encouraging discussions on the common challenges faced by countries.

As part of the 149th IPU Assembly, Speaker Gashi met with Elisa Spiropali, President of the Assembly of the Republic of Albania; Numan Kurtulmuş, President of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye; and Snežana Paunović, Vice President of the Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. The meetings emphasized the importance of reaffirming the fundamental values of the IPU and strengthening interparliamentary cooperation.

Parliament Spekaer Gashi also met with the Bertrand Piccard, the Chairman of Solar Impulse Foundation, who made the first solar-powered flight around the globe and is a recipient of the UN Champions of the Earth award. This foundation focuses on finding innovative solutions to the environmental crisis and promoting these solutions to policymakers to facilitate faster transition to a sustainable economy.

Photo: Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia