Skopje, 5 March 2026 (MIA) - The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Affairs, Bekim Sali, Thursday opened the meeting of the Strategic Coordination Board of the project “Support to the European Integration of North Macedonia,” held at the Ministry of European Affairs.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Government, ambassadors of EU member states, representatives of the European Union, as well as partners from the United Nations system, including the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the Ministry of European Affairs said in a press release.

In his address, Minister Sali underscored that European integration remains the highest strategic priority of North Macedonia and that following the completion of the screening process, the focus is now shifting toward the concrete implementation of reforms.

“We are now entering a decisive phase – moving from identifying gaps to closing them. This requires strong institutional capacity, coordination and disciplined implementation. Reform Agenda should be understood not only as a political framework, but as an operational programme for implementation, where clear priorities, realistic deadlines and effective inter-institutional coordination are key,” Sali noted.

Sali also highlighted the importance of partnerships with international organisations and implementing partners such as UNOPS, which help transform political commitment into concrete results through technical expertise, project management support and transparent implementation.

“Our shared objective remains clear – the full-fledged membership of North Macedonia in the European Union. To achieve this, consistency, credibility, and results are required,” Sali said.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the project’s progress to date, as well as planned activities for the upcoming period, aimed at further strengthening institutional preparedness and coordination of the reform processes, reads the press release.

Photo: Office of the Minister of European Affairs