Skopje, 29 February 2024 (MIA) – The goal of the implementation of the Growth Plan and the development of the Common Regional Market is for the citizens to feel the benefits of socio-economic development of the region on the path to the EU, until North Macedonia’s full-fledged membership in the European Union, wrote Deputy Prime Minister for European affairs, Bojan Marichikj, in a Facebook post after participating in the regional meeting on European integration in Tirana on Thursday.

Marichikj said the regional meeting in Tirana focused on cooperation between the Western Balkan countries, implementation of the Growth Plan and development of the Common Regional Market.

“Outlining concrete measures and priority actions for the inclusion of the economies in the EU’s single market means accelerated integration of the Western Balkans and significantly enhanced socio-economic development of the region,” wrote Marichikj.

Marichikj said several concrete measures were agreed at the meeting – participation in the EU’s Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), which, he said, would facilitate the payment for products and services between the EU and the Western Balkans.

“The measure will be implemented by the end of the year. Another concrete measure are the green lanes on the border crossing for vehicles carrying products from the Western Balkans. The goal is to reduce waiting time, increase trade and economic development,” said Marichikj.

The next measure is Wi-Fi for the Western Balkans, which would ensure free internet access to the citizens in public spaces and buildings in 500 municipalities of the Western Balkans. Marichikj said the measure would be implemented with financial assistance from the EU.

The last measure, according to Marichikj, is the inclusion of North Macedonia’s pharmaceutical industry and civil society in the European Union’s system for procuring essential medicines.

Western Balkan leaders held a meeting Thursday in Tirana focused on the European integration of the region and the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

The meeting was attended by the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Talat Xhaferi, the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić. European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, and the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Majlinda Bregu, attended the meeting as well.

Photo: Government/Bojan Marichikj's Facebook profile