Brussels, 26 October 2022 (MIA) – The Republic of North Macedonia belongs to the European family and it can always count on the European Union’s support. The EU is our partner in the implementation of reforms on the path to full Euro-integration and realization of projects but also in supporting the Government’s policies and measures over the crisis management, agreed Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi and European Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn in Brussels on Wednesday. Minister Besimi highlighted the Government’s efforts in responding to the challenges arising from the crisis and the continuity of policies that produce accelerated economic growth. The new Law on Budgets is set to yield essential changes in the public finance management, whereas the ministry has been investing long-standing efforts to strengthen fiscal transparency. The Ministry of Finance has extended a request to the European Commission for macro-finance support, with a clear signal given at the meeting that North Macedonia can count on this support, as was the case during the covid-crisis. “Our country has been in a crisis, as the entire world, for the third year running. The energy and price crisis has complemented the covid-crisis. The Government has passed sets of measures worth EUR 1,1 billion to support the population and the businesses during the pandemic, followed by another two sets worth EUR 750 million to soften the blow of the current crisis. In addition, Budget funds are used to subsidize the electricity price for citizens and about 70,000 companies on the regulated market, with EUR 240 million already allocated to Power Plants of North Macedonia (ESM) for electricity and heating energy production. Therefore, the support for the population and the economy has reached EUR 1 billion, which represents a significant pressure on the budget and the public debt. Nevertheless, these policies have been recognized by international financial institutions and we have managed to secure financing at the lowest-possible cost,” said Besimi. Interlocutors also referred to the activities within the EU accession process and the implementation of the recommendations noted in the latest EC Progress Report, the Ministry of Finance said in a press release.