Skopje, 19 July 2022 (MIA) – Today’s opening of the accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania is a success of both countries and your citizens. This is a result of your enduring commitment to our values, you have demonstrated resilience, you have maintained faith in the accession process, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in remarks ahead of the Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels on Tuesday. Von der Leyen said both countries have strengthened the rule of law, have fought against corruption, have free media and a vibrant civil society, done countless reforms and modernized the economies. “You have made all these changes not because they were necessary on your path towards the European Union but above all because they are good for your countries. And they are already delivering a better quality of life for your people. We, the European Commission, have supported you all the way and we will continue to do so,” said von der Layen. The EC President also referred to the IGC that is set to take place in Brussels. “Right after the IGC today, the Commission and the negotiating teams from Albania and North Macedonia will start to work. The screening of the EU Acqis will start, this is the first step in the process, enabling Albania and North Macedonia to get familiar with the rights and obligations of our Union –treaties, legislation, international agreements – and we will proceed very quickly with that,” said von der Layen. She added that parties will continue to get closer in key areas. “For instance, Albania will now join the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. We already started the discussion last month, and this will enhance Albania’s resilience to natural disasters like wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and members know, since some are fighting terrible fires as we speak right now, that the EU is always there to support you when disasters strike. North Macedonia will very soon negotiate with us the Frontex agreement. It is about the deployment of Frontex to North Macedonia and this will strengthen our cooperation in migration. Dimitar, you can count on my support to ensure that the agreement is translated into the Macedonian language, no footnote, no asterisk, on equal footing with all 24 European languages,” said the EC chief. According to her, the opening of the accession process will increase cooperation as countries advance in the negotiations. “There will be a boost in investments, improved trade links, closer collaboration in key areas like energy and transport. You will maximize the use and the impact of EU funding. This means new jobs, new opportunities, this is what your citizens have been waiting for so long and have been working for so hard, and this is what they deserve,” said von der Leyen. She also addressed PM Kovachevski and his Albanian counterpart Rama personally. “You have shown so much leadership, so much vision, you have shown strategic patience, Edi in abundance. And not only, but most importantly, in these challenging times of Russia’s brutal war, you have proven time and again your attachment to European values as true friends and true partners,” underlined von der Layen.