Skopje, 30 September 2022 (MIA) — Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj held a meeting with European Investment Bank Skopje office director Björn Gabriel and discussed support of projects focusing on infrastructure, transport, energy, the environment and other areas key for the sustainable development of North Macedonia and its achieving European standards and progress in reforms. “The European Investment Bank is our traditional partner and supporter of projects that are of concrete importance for the country’s development and that contribute to the progress of our European integration process. Now, with the EIB’s presence in our country, our communication and cooperation on large infrastructure projects will further improve,” Marichikj said. At the meeting, Marichikj and Gabriel said the improved coordination between the EIB and the Secretariat for European Affairs would benefit the development of North Macedonia. “We will work on improving the management of investments and applying for projects from the Western Balkans Investment Framework as the main means of implementing our investment agenda. We are committed to the implementation of the Economic and Investment Plan and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans,” Marichikj said. As the National IPA coordinator, Marichikj said he would remain focused on optimizing the funds for regional infrastructure projects and the possibility of the EIB funding or co-financing them. In this regard, Marichikj stressed the importance of the construction of the third section of the railway corridor VIII between North Macedonia and Bulgaria worth 404 million euros as well as the construction of the gas interconnector between North Macedonia and Greece. Gabriel said North Macedonia was a reliable partner of the EIB and a model example of the efficient use of dedicated funds. He added that the bank would keep supporting the country’s EU reform goals. mr/