Skopje, 19 December 2024 (MIA) - Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi and several lawmakers met Thursday with Bruno Fuchs, chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the French National Assembly, who also serves as the Parliamentary Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie.

Speaker Gashi reaffirmed the excellent and continued relations between the two countries and parliaments, with a focus on the parliamentary friendship groups. On Euro-integration, he briefed MP Fuchs on the requirements for opening of the negotiating chapters and expressed gratitude to the French renewed commitment to the Western Balkans and the enlargement process, the Parliament said in a press release.

Fuchs confirmed the Committee's support and his personal engagement in accelerating the Euro-integration process, taking into consideration the shifts in international relations and the global order. He also welcomed the cooperation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie with the country section.

Interlocutors agreed that a new momentum in the EU accession process of Western Balkans is needed, along with settlement of open bilateral issues and support to candidate-countries in implementation of reforms, while highlighting the idea for increased cooperation in broader European terms and preserving the democratic values in the countries' societies, reads the press release.

Earlier, Speaker Gashi met with senior officials of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, discussing bilateral relations, Euro-integration, economic cooperation and regional developments, with the hosts voicing full support to the EU accession of North Macedonia and the region, considering its geopolitical significance.

The Macedonian delegation urged for enhanced engagement of Union founding states in accelerating the process, support and assistance for reforms, as well as more foreign investments in the country, adds the press release.

Photo: Parliament