Skopje, 18 March 2022 (MIA) – Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj and Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi held Friday an online coordination meeting with the sectoral working group on programming of the IPA instrument in the field of competitiveness and innovation 2021-2027. Deputy PM Marichikj, who is also the National IPA Coordinator, highlighted the importance of having priorities and project planning based on the main strategic document, thus streamlining the donor coordination in the service of the national priorities, including the EU integration process in general, while noting the need for participation of civil society organizations at meetings of sectoral working groups, the Secretariat for European Affairs said in a press release. “We must coordinate in the fields of strategic planning and identification of priorities, for the purpose of ensuring synergy in donor support and avoiding overlapping of assistance. This must take into consideration the EU integration-related reforms within the National Programme for adoption of the EU Acquis, the National Development Plan and the Programme of Economic Reforms,” said Marichikj. Deputy PM Bytyqi said their task is to define priorities in the sector in the coming years and mid-term funding, and urged all stakeholders from the public sector, the private sector, civil society, donor community and the European Commission to take part in building a social consensus and join efforts and resources for the country’s well-being. “North Macedonia’s strategic response in period 2021-2027 in the field of competitiveness and innovation, more specifically thematic priority 2 related to the development of the private sector, trade, research and innovation identifies three objectives for the purpose of preparing the country for the European single market, improve the regulatory and institutional framework for business operations and investments, increase competitiveness of enterprises, strengthen exports and diversification, internationalization of economy, while responding to the challenges of circular economy/green economy, all through enhanced research, technology development and innovation,” said Bytyqi.