Today in Brussels, the Minister of Foreign Affairas, Nikola Dimitrov and Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Bujar Osmani, met with EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, where they discussed the need to intensify the reform process and translate it into concrete results.
Encouraging messages for the European perspectives of Macedonia were sent from the meetings, according to the Macedonian MFA. Hahn and Mogherini reaffirmed their support for ongoing reform processes and building bridges for good neighborly relations as strong arguments for obtaining an unconditional recommendation, as a key precondition for the desired political decision to start negotiations with the Union by next spring.
Crucial moments of importance for Macedonia in the coming period were highlighted:
- February: The announcement of the strategy by European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker on EU Perspectives of the Western Balkans.
- April: EC Progress Report
- May: EU-Western Balkans summit in Sofia during the Bulgarian EU Council Presidency.
“In the Strategy of EC President Juncker, there should be room for everyone. The turning point for the Republic of Macedonia is the best story of the region for 2017. Combined with the encouraging regional narrative and EU support, we can make a difference and a real step forward in 2018. However, the results of the reforms will be key on that road”, said Dimitrov.
Within his two-day visit, Dimitrov had several meetings, including Deputy Director General of the Directorate-General for Home Affairs Simon Mordue, with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Augusto Santos Silva, and British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson.
