As part of his visit to the European institutions in Brussels, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Poposki, has signed today the Agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the European Union on Establishing a Framework for the Participation of the Republic of Macedonia in Crisis Management Operations of the European Union. On behalf of the EU and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, the Agreement has been signed by the Executive Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Pierre Vimont. 

At the ensuing meeting, Minister Poposki and EEAS Executive Secretary General Vimont have both agreed that the signing of the Agreement is yet another step forward in further developing the relations of partnership under the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, to which Macedonia is making an active contribution through its participation in several EU-led peace operations, as well as through the development of its combat capacity. 

Moreover, at the meeting, Minister Poposki and EEAS Executive Secretary General Vimont have also discussed the most topical issues concerning the relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the European Union, placing a special emphasis on the latest 2012 EC Progress Report on the Republic of Macedonia and the prospects for entering the next stage of the EU accession process. Speaking on that note, Minister Poposki has expressed his expectation that, at the December meeting of the Council of the EU, a consensus will be reached among the EU member states on setting a date for finally starting accession negotiations with the Republic of Macedonia.