Skopje, 14 September 2022 (MIA) - Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani on Wednesday hosted officials of the EU member countries in the Council of the EU charged with the enlargement process and the countries negotiating accession (COELA), who are paying a two-day visit to North Macedonia for talks with state institutions and representatives of the civil society. Osmani thanked for the support of the EU member countries and institutions for launching the new, long-awaited phase in the negotiations process, the Foreign Ministry said. Minister Osmani underlined the country's high preparedness for a successful and accelerated negotiating process as the country has already been aligning its legislation with the EU's recording a high 45 percent of alignment even before the opening of the negotiations as well as 100-percent alignment with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. The country's 100-percent alignment with the EU declarations and restrictions is a proof that North Macedonia is a reliable partner of the EU in these challenging geopolitical times and unstable climate, Osmani stated. During the meeting, the Minister shared views with the representatives of the working group in regards to the new moment in the relations of the country with the EU and North Macedonia's entering a negotiating phase and the preparations ahead the first meetings with the EU as part o the screening process, expected to be concluded by November 2023. "This strategic and decisive position has its socio-economic impact, especially affecting the energy sector of the country, the same as all across Europe, and it will be very important for the EU to include the Western Balkan countries in the mechanisms and measures to overcome the consequences from the Ukraine war," said Minister Osmani. At the same time, he welcomed the bloc's unwavering commitment to the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans. Osmani, said the press release, reaffirmed the government's commitment to implementing the domestic reform agenda aimed at better preparedness and accelerated progress during individual negotiations of the chapters of the negotiating process. The EU officials voiced satisfaction that both sides are in a new qualitative phase in its relations with the opening of negotiations expressing confidence in the preparedness for improvement on North Macedonia's EU integration path. They also voiced preparedness for financial assistance through the IPA funds. COELA is visiting the country ahead of the EU screening process with North Macedonia, considered the first phase in the negotiations. It is also the first visit after the Council's decision to transfer the dossiers of North Macedonia and Albania in the working group charged with the countries in negotiations, together with Montenegro and Serbia. Before the first Intergovernmental Conference in July, North Macedonia's dossier was treated in the COWEB working group in charge of the Western Balkan countries that are yet to open negotiations with the EU.