Skopje, 13 November 2023 (MIA) – The EU – Western Balkans Ministerial to be held on Monday afternoon in Brussels, chaired by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, will focus on events in the Middle East and Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a clear position on these issues, I think the country’s foreign policy ranked the highest in the European Commission’s Report because we have a complete, 100 percent alignment, and it was assessed with the highest grade – good progress, said Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani in a media briefing Monday.

The Foreign Minister confirmed he will not attend the meeting in Brussels due to “important meetings within the frameworks of North Macedonia’s OSCE’s Chairpersonship held in Skopje today and tomorrow”, however, he noted that the meeting will be attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Fatmire Isaku.

In terms of expectations from Monday’s ministerial meeting, Osmani said it is a regular meeting of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council, to which the foreign ministers of the region have been invited to this time, where, he said, several issues are expected to be discussed including enlargement and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

“The Growth Plan, which was published by the European Commission, clearly defines, that from now on access to the Union has been made possible even before membership. This is something that we, ourselves, asked for and promoted as more integration before membership in seven areas of the common market and funds to assist reforms. Of course, December will be historic for the EU, because of the decisions they are expected to make on Ukraine, Moldova, and of course the Western Balkans too. Whether we will be ready for such a historic decision is now, unfortunately, in the hands of the MPs,” said Osmani.