News
4/10/2019 14:11
The Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs, Bujar Osmani,
along with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Dimitrov, met with the
president of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Germany, Annagret
Kramp-Karrenbauer within the framework of their working visit to the Federal
Republic of Germany.
“We have two days of extremely important meetings and activities in
Berlin. Germany is our key European partner and supporter and our goal is to
offer our German friends as many arguments as we can within these two days as
to why we deserve to take the next step towards the European Union and to open
accession negotiations. Therefore, we briefed the new CDU/CSU leader on where
the Republic of North Macedonia was less than two years ago and where it is
today, an example of a good neighbour and reliable partner in the Region. We
have achieved a lot and we continue to give our all in working both in and out
of the country, so that we ensure, alongside our partners, an acceptable
European perspective for our country” – Minister Dimitrov said.
“Speaking of European integrations, we have always considered Germany
our strategic partner, whose initiatives provide the motivation and
perspectives for our success”, Osmani stressed, voicing clear expectation that
this support and mutual cooperation will continue in the future. “In this
forthcoming period we need all the political support of all our friends inside
the EU so that we can expand the European story to include the Balkans, and to
eliminate the European skepticism that penetrates the outskirts of Europe, by
offering clear and unequivocal support from EU member-states for the EU
perspectives of the Republic of North Macedonia as the torchbearer of the
European idea among Western Balkan states” – Osmani added, noting the
expectations that the upcoming EU summit this June will confirm last year’s
decision to open accession negotiations with the Republic of North Macedonia.
As part of their working visit to Berlin, Deputy Prime Minister Osmani
and Minister Dimitrov are set to meet the Minister of State for Europe, Michael
Roth and to participate in the briefing before the Committee on EU at the
German Bundestag where they will brief on the course of implementing the
political obligations stemming from the Prespa Agreement and the Treaty on Good
Neighbourliness with Bulgaria, as well as on the progress in implementing
reforms in areas foreseen in last year’s EU summit conclusions, as the key
criteria for this year’s summit in June when a confirmation of the decision to
open negotiations with the EU is expected.