Skopje, 26 October 2022 (MIA) — A government delegation led by Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with the highest honors Wednesday evening. Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj, Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, and Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi also attended the welcoming ceremony. Von der Leyen is accompanied by the European Commissioner Home Affairs Ylva Johansson. The two delegations are set to hold meetings and sign the status agreement between the Republic of North Macedonia and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex. Von der Leyen and Kovachevski will then hold a joint press conference. The EC President is also expected to meet with President Stevo Pendarovski later this evening. Starting with North Macedonia, President von der Leyen will visit the countries of the Western Balkans during Oct. 26-29 to emphasize the importance that the European Union attaches to the region, and its unwavering commitment to the region’s European integration perspective, according to a press release from the EU Delegation. The visit of President von der Leyen, the release notes, comes at a time when Europe faces unprecedented challenges, resulting from Russia’s war on Ukraine, including an energy crisis. "The EU has already invested significant resources to help the energy transition in the country, which has already helped to prepare the country better to cope with crisis such as the current one as well as address its climate targets. "At the same time, President von der Leyen will outline further support that the EU will provide to North Macedonia and to the region to help mitigate the impacts of the current energy crisis. "By working together, the EU and North Macedonia will seek to address current challenges in the energy sector and reduce the impact it is having on the country and its citizens," the EU Delegation's release says. mr/