"We also have wide sectoral cooperation, with no open issues. Austria is our long-standing partner in the UN and OSCE, but above all, Austria is a strong and vocal supporter, partner and advocate for the European integration of North Macedonia and the countries of the Western Balkans. Today's meeting is yet another in a series of talks in our active political dialogue during the past year and this year. Just a few weeks ago, in Skopje, I had the honor of meeting with Austria's President Van der Bellen, during his official visit to North Macedonia. Allow me to reiterate what I told the Chancellor at the meeting earlier, which is that Austria enjoys a great reputation in North Macedonia, not only because of its deep understanding of our region or its firm support for our path to the EU, but also because of its strong and continuous economic presence in our country - Austria is the largest foreign investor in North Macedonia, with investments of over EUR 900 million until 2022," said the PM. 

According to Kovachevski, there are opportunities to improve mutual trade, particularly by increasing Macedonian exports to Austria, especially agricultural products and organic production. He also mentioned Austria's assistance in dealing with the refugee and migrant crisis on the southern border. Both Kovachevski and Nehammer agreed that migration is a common challenge for European countries.

Chancellor Nehammer thanked North Macedonia for its efforts in taking measures to prevent illegal crossings. PM Kovachevski said that the country continuously takes security measures to deal with these challenges, as a NATO member country and as a country negotiating with the EU, as well as a country currently holding the OSCE Chairmanship. He mentioned assistance that the Macedonian police received from Austria, in vehicles and equipment for night border protection.

"That's why I want to express my gratitude for the support from the Government of Austria, and to the Austrian police officers, who played a very important role in the process of more successful supervision and control of illegal attempts to cross the border between North Macedonia and Greece. In the period January - March this year, about two thousand attempts for illegal crossings to enter North Macedonia were prevented," Kovachevski said. 

He pointed out that cooperation continues through the Frontex mechanism, regarding which an agreement was signed last year, and implementation was launched today. Evaluating it as significant, because it was signed in Macedonian language, without additions and footnotes, confirming the commitment to the protection and promotion of the Macedonian identity, Kovachevski stressed that Austria has played a significant role as a friend of the country. He noted that within the framework of Frontex, drones will be used to reaffirm friendship with Austria.

"The Chancellor and I discussed today North Macedonia's integration in the EU. I expressed our gratitude to Austria, which is a strong and open supporter for North Macedonia's accession, as well as for the prospect of EU membership of the entire Western Balkans in general. After numerous challenges on the path to full-fledged EU membership, last year, with Austria's active support, with the active support of the Chancellor, with the active support of his ministers, we started EU accession negotiations. Ahead of us are the next steps that will set the further direction and speed of moving forward on that path," the PM said. 

He stressed that the Government will continue to work on fulfilling strategic goals, improving relations with neighbors in the good neighborly policy, the reform agenda at home, which is of interest to the citizens.