Skopje, 17 October 2024 (MIA) — Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi in Berlin on Thursday met with German Bundestag Committee on European Union Affairs chair Anton Hofreiter, Committee on Foreign Affairs chair Michael Roth, and Parliamentary Friendship Group for Relations with the States of South-Eastern Europe chair Dirk Vöpel, according to an official press release.

Gashi expressed his gratitude for the continuous support of the Bundestag to the country's European integration process and for passing a resolution recognizing the Macedonian culture, identity and language as an integral part of the European common cultural heritage.

"At a time when these universal values are being denied, adopting this resolution has been of particular importance for Macedonian citizens," Gashi stressed.

Meeting participants were informed of the extent of implemented reforms and of the 45-percent compliance of the country's laws with the European legislation, which would help speed up progress if negotiations began, the release said.

"Roth, who is very familiar with the situation, expressed his great disappointment about the latest developments and the current veto, considering that the Republic of North Macedonia has made many concessions and has long ago fulfilled the criteria for starting negotiations. However, he requested constitutional amendments be adopted and reforms implemented, which would improve citizens' lives and prevent highly qualified professionals from leaving the country," the release said.

The German lawmakers confirmed their full support and offered their help to speed up the country's European integration process. 

At the same time, they agreed with Gashi that meetings at all parliamentary levels should continue in the future, and also encouraged cooperation in the economy, education, culture, environment, agriculture and other areas of mutual interest, the release added. mr/