Skopje, 5 April 2023 (MIA) - Croatia looks favorably on all regional initiatives, particularly those aimed at moving towards the EU's foreign policy positions, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said Wednesday in Skopje regarding the informal regional initiative launched by North Macedonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called "QUAD", to promote full alignment of the Western Balkan countries with the EU’s foreign and security policy, which includes North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro.

"There are certain countries in the region that don't have a consistent and clear position towards joining the EU's foreign policy. So, I believe that these common positions will contribute to the dynamism of the European path of the four countries and increase credibility," Plenković said at Wednesday's joint press conference with Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski. 

According to him, the issue of aligning with the EU's visa policy is particularly important, because it is one of the sources of illegal migration from certain countries in the region to the Union.

"The European Parliament and the European Commission follow all those data and trends, and when it comes to foreign policy positions, I believe that the Republic of North Macedonia is 100 percent aligned with the EU. I believe that is a common sense policy for the whole of Europe," said Plenković. 

On the topic of regional initiatives, PM Kovachevski pointed out that the country is a member of NATO, it is 100 percent aligned with the EU's international policy since day one of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and is part of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), as well as the Berlin Process.

He added that North Macedonia, alongside Serbia and Albania, is also a member of the Open Balkan initiative, which is significant for the regional connection of three neighboring states.

He reiterated that North Macedonia is a country whose foreign policy is 100 percent aligned with the EU's foreign policy, and a a NATO member it is 100 percent aligned in terms of support to the Ukrainian people.