Foreign Affairs Minister Nikola Poposki met on Wednesday with the Head of the EU Delegation to Macedonia, Ambassador Aivo Orav to discuss upcoming activities following the announcement of this year's European Commission progress report on Macedonia, Minister of Foreign Affairs says in a press release.

"The Government remains strongly committed to pursuing the Euro-Atlantic reform agenda in all areas covered by the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership. The Republic of Macedonia is fully prepared to tackle the challenges stemming from the process of EU accession talks and expects member countries to allow us to demonstrate that in practice at the European Council in December," Poposki emphasised.

The FM also underscored the determination to further advance good neighborliness by building bridges of friendship and mutual cooperation, founded on mutual respect. It is of key importance the relations between countries in the region and regional cooperation to be focused on issues having practical significance in making the citizens' living standards better, such as improvement of infrastructural and communication networks aimed at stimulating the overall economic growth and development.

Ambassador Aivo Orav said the European Commission praised Macedonia's achievements in meeting the EU membership criteria, which have resulted in obtaining a recommendation for start of accession negotiations for a forth year in a row. At the same time, the EU official reaffirmed the EC's active engagement and commitment to launching negotiations with Macedonia.

Both interlocutors concluded that the opening of accession talks would produce many positive outcomes, states the press release.