Skopje, 30 December 2021 (MIA) – Your support for the start of our EU negotiations and holding the first intergovernmental conference as soon as possible is crucial. This is the only way to restore the country’s trust in the EU, SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski told Dutch Ambassador to North Macedonia Dirk Jan Kop on Thursday. The meeting was also attended by SDSM’s international cooperation secretary Bojan Marichikj, the party said in a press release. The leader of SDSM, who is also PM-designate, stressed that EU accession is North Macedonia’s strategic goal and that the country has no other alternative. Interlocutors discussed during the meeting several topics, focusing on reforms and the country’s EU integration process. Kovachevski thanked the Ambassador for the Netherlands’ support regarding implementation of reforms and efforts for speeding up North Macedonia’s EU integration. “We expect the Netherlands and other EU member states to show strong and visible support for reforms in North Macedonia. In that regard, I expect open access and constant dialogue,” Kovachevski added. Regarding current political developments, he underlined that the new SDSM-led government will be committed to economic policies, fighting corruption, digitalization and institutional efficiency. Ambassador Jan Kop noted that the Netherlands will continue to support North Macedonia and be engaged in the reform and EU integration process, so that the country can start accession negotiations as soon as possible.