Brussels, 4 September 2024 (MIA) — Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani on his two-day working visit to Brussels had separate meetings with  Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Western Balkans director Valentina Superti and DG NEAR Head of Unit for North Macedonia and Albania Sigrit Brettel, the Ministry of European Affairs said in a press release.

According to the release, their talks focused on the country's progress in the Reform Agenda 2024-2027 and the EU's Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which is a significant step toward the region's economic transformation.

The meetings also discussed preparations for signing the Agreement on the Reform and Growth Facility and the Loan Agreement, laying the legal foundations for the implementation of previously agreed projects.

Meeting participants noted the importance of communication with the public and the business community on the benefits of the plan as part of the broader EU integration processes. 

Minister Murtezani said the country was ready to actively cooperate on new priority areas in order to strengthen regional security and economic development.

Meeting participants also discussed the preparations of the next Report of the European Commission on North Macedonia, as part of the EU enlargement package, and the reports from the screening process, which showed the degree of compliance of North Macedonia with EU standards. 

They highlighted the progress in action plans as a necessary prerequisite for the further integration of the country into the EU's structures, according to the release.

Earlier on Wednesday, Murtezani met with the EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi.

The Europe minister is also scheduled to meet with Secretary-General of the European External Action Service Stefano Sannino, Director-General of DG NEAR Gert Jan Koopman, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU Bálint Ódor, and MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk, the rapporteur for North Macedonia in the former European Parliament. mr/