Speaker Xhaferi meets Italian Deputy FM Della Vedova
Skopje, 26 July 2021 (MIA) – Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi met Monday with Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Benedetto Della Vedova, who is paying an official visit to North Macedonia.
Speaker Xhaferi voiced satisfaction that bilateral relations between North Macedonia and Italy are traditionally good and friendly, and the economic cooperation maintains the optimal trend.
Xhaferi stressed that special emphasis is placed on the interest to deepen the overall cooperation between the two parliaments, strengthen the relations between North Macedonia and Italy, as equal NATO allies, as well as between the two countries’ delegations within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Alliance, the Parliament said in a press release.
“The constructive cooperation within the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative and the Central European Initiative is especially appreciated, where the Italian Republic has a key and active role and makes a strong contribution to the strengthening of mutual relations of the member states,” the Parliament Speaker said, extending gratitude for the support of the Italian Parliament and its resolutions that provide sincere and unequivocal support to North Macedonia’s European integration.
Della Vedova expressed satisfaction with the traditionally good bilateral cooperation that has no outstanding issues, as well as the good relations between the two parliaments, and particularly referred to the intensive activities of the Italian institutions within the EU to ensure start of negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania.
“He said the position of the Italian Government is to open the negotiating framework sooner, adding that outstanding bilateral issues should not affect the European integration process. He also briefed the Speaker on the Italian proposal that debates within the Conferences on the Future of Europe include youth policies, i.e. the voice of young people, not only from the EU member states, but also from the Western Balkans. He pledged for stronger trade cooperation between the two countries, as well as increased penetration of Italian investments in the Republic of North Macedonia, particularly in the area of road infrastructure and energy,” reads the press release.
Interlocutors, the press release adds, shared common views on the trend of declining EU credibility in the region if the slow pace of European integration of the Western Balkans continues, as well as on the threat of possible malign third country influence and growing Euroscepticism.
Participants in the meeting reaffirmed the importance of continuous political dialogue aimed at strengthening the overall bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
“Interlocutors voiced commitment to promoting inter-parliamentary cooperation and sharing foreign policy and parliamentary diplomacy experience,” the press release reads.
Xhaferi stressed that special emphasis is placed on the interest to deepen the overall cooperation between the two parliaments, strengthen the relations between North Macedonia and Italy, as equal NATO allies, as well as between the two countries’ delegations within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Alliance, the Parliament said in a press release.
“The constructive cooperation within the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative and the Central European Initiative is especially appreciated, where the Italian Republic has a key and active role and makes a strong contribution to the strengthening of mutual relations of the member states,” the Parliament Speaker said, extending gratitude for the support of the Italian Parliament and its resolutions that provide sincere and unequivocal support to North Macedonia’s European integration.
Della Vedova expressed satisfaction with the traditionally good bilateral cooperation that has no outstanding issues, as well as the good relations between the two parliaments, and particularly referred to the intensive activities of the Italian institutions within the EU to ensure start of negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania.
“He said the position of the Italian Government is to open the negotiating framework sooner, adding that outstanding bilateral issues should not affect the European integration process. He also briefed the Speaker on the Italian proposal that debates within the Conferences on the Future of Europe include youth policies, i.e. the voice of young people, not only from the EU member states, but also from the Western Balkans. He pledged for stronger trade cooperation between the two countries, as well as increased penetration of Italian investments in the Republic of North Macedonia, particularly in the area of road infrastructure and energy,” reads the press release.
Interlocutors, the press release adds, shared common views on the trend of declining EU credibility in the region if the slow pace of European integration of the Western Balkans continues, as well as on the threat of possible malign third country influence and growing Euroscepticism.
Participants in the meeting reaffirmed the importance of continuous political dialogue aimed at strengthening the overall bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
“Interlocutors voiced commitment to promoting inter-parliamentary cooperation and sharing foreign policy and parliamentary diplomacy experience,” the press release reads.
