The President of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev and the members of the Macedonian delegation, Deputy President of the Government in charge of European Affairs, Nikola Dimitrov, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani and the Head of Mission to EU, Agneza Rusi-Popovska met with the Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans. 

At the meeting PM Zaev expressed his appreciation to VP Timmermans for his support for commencement of negotiations with North Macedonia while adding that our country and the Western Balkans, as a whole, are part of EU’s future and that this issue can no longer be postponed. 

During the cordial and friendly meeting VP Timmermans commended North Macedonia on its leadership and everything that was done for progress and democratic and reform transformation of North Macedonia in the past few years. Furthermore, he underlined that he remains firmly committed, personally and institutionally, to the final part of the membership process for North Macedonia. 

The interlocutors agreed that this process should not be separated from Albania and that North Macedonia has met all conditions to start negotiations, as was confirmed in EC reports for unconditional start of negotiations.

During the meeting the interlocutors discussed the post-Covid period and the support for the region and our country in the phase of socio-economic recovery. VP Timmermans underlined the leadership of our country for investment in renewable energy sources, stating that this is a serious investment of the country in the projects that will be funded by EU under the Economic Investment Plan and the IPA program in the value of 9 billion EUR in grants, and additional 20 billion in favorable loans for infrastructural and other projects in the region.