• Saturday, 23 November 2024

Osmani-Várhelyi: First IGC to be held as soon as possible

Osmani-Várhelyi: First IGC to be held as soon as possible
Skopje, 16 November 2021 (MIA) – Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani met in Brussels with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi and discussed North Macedonia’s European perspective, good neighbourly relations, regional initiatives and expectations regarding progress in the country’s EU integration ahead of key meetings in December. Interlocutors, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release, also talked about the European Commission’s latest report on North Macedonia, which sent a clear message that the enlargement policy’s credibility remains a key geostrategic investment in peace, stability, security and economic development across Europe. Moreover, they reaffirmed the EC’s positive score for North Macedonia which has resulted in member states calling for holding the first intergovernmental conference as soon as possible. Osmani and Várhelyi discussed during the meeting recent political developments in North Macedonia, as well as efforts to overcome differences with Bulgaria in order to resume EU integration. “The government remains committed to the reform agenda and European integration, putting special focus on good neighborly relations, crucial for regional stability. Enlargement is the best tool for encouraging complex reforms and consolidation. Its transformative power is based on conditionality and objective evaluation of results in processes that reflect EU values,” Osmani stressed. Várhelyi briefed Osmani on the European Commission’s efforts to renew the European momentum in the region, as well as on the implementation of the Economic Investment Plan, through which the EU will support the economic recovery of Western Balkan countries, help promote regional cooperation and stronger ties with EU. FM Osmani will meet on Tuesday in Brussels with Chair of the EP’s Delegation to the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee Andreas Schieder, EP Rapporteur on North Macedonia Ilhan Kyuchyuk, as well as foreign policy advisors to European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.