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Gashi - Larcher: Call for stronger French engagement towards sooner opening of EU cluster

Gashi - Larcher: Call for stronger French engagement towards sooner opening of EU cluster

Skopje, 18 December 2024 (MIA) - A delegation led by Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi met with French Senate President Gérard Larcher in Paris on Wednesday, the first visit of a Speaker from North Macedonia to France's Senate on record.

President Larcher said the visit is a clear message of French interest for more direct cooperation on topics of mutual interest, noting that the Senate supports the country's EU membership and the allocation of European funds to push the process. He also praised the complex compromises and reforms by the country and its alignment with the EU common foreign and security policy, the Parliament said in a press release.

President Gashi thanked France and its statesmen for their contribution in the country's development.

"The foundations on which the French state rests - freedom, equality and brotherhood - should be respected by all. On Euro-integration, it was highlighted that delaying the process of a country that first signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement in the region and burdening the accession process with bilateral issues brings into question EU's credibility, while strengthening the influence of third parties and lowering the citizens' support for the EU," said Gashi.

He also called for stronger French engagement towards sooner opening of the first negotiating cluster.

Interlocutors agreed that economic cooperation and French investments are lagging behind, and pledged for their increase in the future. In addition, they reaffirmed the position that parliamentary cooperation should strengthen in the context of European affairs, reads the press release.

Photo: Parliament