Skopje, 17 March 2023 (MIA) - Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski delivered the opening remarks at the 16th Stabilization and Association Council between North Macedonia and the European Union, held in Skopje on Friday, saying the country has finally started the EU accession negotiations after numerous challenges on the path, thus marking the beginning of a new qualitative stage in relations with the Union.

 

"We signed the first official agreement with Frontex in Macedonian language, alongside the other 24 official EU languages, which reaffirms the protection of the country's identity traits," said PM Kovachevski.

 

 

This meeting is of historic importance, he added, because it takes place after we launched the EU accession negotiations and joined NATO, 22 years from the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and 17 years after receiving the candidate status.

 

"The Government will continue to invest maximum efforts for timely completion of the initial stage of the accession negotiations, thus ensuring dynamic negotiations," said Kovachevski.

 

The Council meeting is chaired by PM Kovachevski and co-chaired by European Commission Vice-President and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, the Government said in a press release.

 

North Macedonia's delegation at the meeting also includes Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj and Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, whereas the EU delegation comprises European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, representatives of EU member-states and European institutions.

 

The PM said the Government was focused on implementing the required reforms, especially in the field of rule of law, enhancement of goodneighborly relations through dialogue based on mutual respect, in the spirit of the European values.

 

"Full commitment to the reform agenda and a dynamic process of negotiations are part of the Government's ambitious goal - North Macedonia to be fully prepared to assume membership tasks by the end of 2030, so that the country can become member by the next Union budget period," noted Kovachevski.

 

He added that Russia's brutal invasion in Ukraine has deeply altered geopolitical reality and North Macedonia immediately and unequivocally joined the condemnation of the European Union and international partners while providing humanitarian, military and diplomatic assistance.

 

"North Macedonia has also joined all sanctions that the EU has imposed on the Russian Federation, including the ones introduced following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, thus ensuring a 100-percent alignment with EU positions in the field of common foreign and security policy. In this way, we are reaffirming our commitment to sharing European values and principles that EU's foreign policy is founded on," said Kovachevski.

 

The Council meeting focuses on issues that are significant to the stabilization and association process, such as harmonization with the EU Acquis, bilateral relations within the Stabilization and Association Agreement and current political developments in the region and Europe, reads the press release.