Skopje, 16 May 2023 (MIA) – Since its independence, the Republic of North Macedonia has been committed to achieving a Euro-Atlantic future. Since last year, negotiations have already been opened on that path, the screening process is ongoing, it should be completed in November 2023, to be followed by an EC report, and then intensifying activities is expected in order to achieve the goal of the Government for the country to become a full-fledged EU member by 2030, Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi said in an address at the European Policy Centre in Brussels on "The war and its implications for the Balkans: North Macedonia's perspective".  

"We are firmly committed to implementing the necessary structural reforms on the path to full EU integration. Our goal is to create better living conditions, a better standard of living for citizens, a better future especially for young people. Simply put, to bring Europe home," said Besimi, adding that every obstacle on that path should not discourage us, but further motivate us to develop society and generate better results. 

In this process, the Minister pointed out, the Economic and Financial Dialogue is of great importance, as part of which in Brussels today, we adopted joint conclusions which are guidelines for policies in the coming year and which contribute to directing the capacities of the state towards implementing the most priority reforms, which affect achieving higher rates of economic growth.

"The main focus of the government policies, amid the conditions imposed by the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine, is aimed at dealing with high inflation and supporting the investments needed to maintain a positive growth rate in the short-term and its acceleration in the medium-term. The realization of the planned public capital investments and the expectations for the reduction of inflation in 2023, with the implementation of structural reforms, are the basis for speeding up growth in the medium-term. In that regard, investing in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency will be a top priority, which will help reduce energy prices and diversify energy sources. The Government's efforts to increase the competitiveness of the economy will be aimed at dealing with the informal economy and promoting digital transition, and work will also be done to improve the results in education in order to reduce the unemployment rate," Besimi noted. 

Pointing to the benefits of EU membership, he said that every member state achieves better results in the EU than outside it, pointing to the fact that the EU creates new value.

"EU membership, above all, includes access to a market of more than half a billion consumers, ensures higher economic growth, a more favorable business climate, bringing the standard of living closer to the EU standard, faster progress in structural reforms for the development of the private sector, greater progress in institutional democracy and good governance, political stability, as well as the rule of law and the fight against corruption. Every new progress means access to new financing funds to achieve the set goals. EU membership means increased security and stability of the country, a higher credit rating of the country and increased domestic and foreign investments, which will attract new jobs, together with advanced knowledge, new technology and increased competitiveness of the domestic economy," Besimi said. 

He stressed that the country's European path has no alternative, adding that speeding up the negotiation processes for all countries in the Western Balkans is very significant, particularly from the aspect of the developments with Ukraine and ensuring long-term stability in the region.

The European Policy Centre (EPC) is an independent, non-profit think-tank international organization focusing on European integration.  

Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi participated in the Annual Economic and Financial Dialogue between the EU and the Western Balkans and Turkey in Brussels. 

Photo: Ministry of Finance