Brussels, 13 February 2024 (MIA) – The Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union is providing support to everything that North Macedonia is doing on its path to EU membership, Deputy Prime Minister for European affairs, Bojan Marichikj, told MIA after a meeting Tuesday in Brussels with the Belgian Foreign Minister, Hadja Lahbib.

“The Belgian Minister assured us that the topic of enlargement is high on the agenda of the Belgian Presidency, and that all issues related to the Western Balkans and enlargement will find themselves on the agenda over these six months. The roadmaps that we have submitted, which we will need to complete during this period, will be discussed as well as issues related to the Growth Plan,” said Marichikj.

Marichikj said that at the meeting he noted that all aspects should be taken into account during the process, including a consistent application of the text from the Negotiating Framework, as well as the conclusions of the EU’s Council of ministers.

According to Marichikj, Lahbib was also interested in the political situation in the country and the activities related to the reform plan, as well as which reforms the country can implement during this period.

“We said we will do everything that can be done with a caretaker Government, including the finalization of the reform plan related to the Growth Plan, but that we will work more intensively on this after the citizens’ decision at the elections. After the creation of the next government, and I am certain that it will be by this majority. It [the government] will have to do intensive work on European integrations, reforms, and the constitutional amendments,” added Marichikj.

In addition, Marichikj met with Deputy Managing Director for the Western Balkans at the European External Action Service (EEAS), Marko Makovec, and is set to hold a meeting with Director-General of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), Gert Jan Koopman, as well as with Simon Mordue, the Chief Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of the European Council Charles Michel.  

In his statement, Marichikj said the goal of the meetings is to get informed about events ahead of the European elections in June and the last months of the term of the current EU institutions, as well as to note all events in North Macedonia and the process of preparing elections.

“Our goal is to send a clear message that North Macedonia remains on the European path; that even in conditions where we have a caretaker government we are working to fulfill all obligations related to the European path and that we need further support from the European institutions, from Brussels, and from the member states,” said Marichikj, adding that the visit of caretaker Prime Minister Talat Xhaferi and Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani to Brussels will be to that end as well.

Photo: MIA Archive