Under the Macedonian Chairmanship-in-Office of the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP), on 10 April 2013, Skopje hosted the Informal Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SEECP participating states.

Ministers and high ranking representatives of Ministries of Foreign Affairs of SEECP participating states, as well as the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and European Union representatives attended the meeting. 

As the SEECP Chair-in-Office, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Poposki, informed the participants about the thus far attained priorities and implemented activities, elaborating as well upon the expectations during the Macedonian Chairmanship-in-Office, while focusing on the thematic Summit dedicated to issues such as disaster risk reduction and adjustment to climate changes, in which respect an enhanced regional cooperation under the SEECP is envisaged.

In his address, Foreign Minister Poposki underlined that the Macedonian SEECP Chairmanship reaffirmed the commitments of the Republic of Macedonia to advancing good–neighbourly relations and the integration of Southeast European countries in the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. He furthermore emphasized that the European perspective of the Region is the driving force towards a more stable, more secure and more prosperous Region. The Minister pointed out the commitment of the Republic of Macedonia to strengthening the cooperation with the Regional Cooperation Council, which will contribute to a more successful implementation of the 2014-2016 Regional Cooperation Council Strategy and Program of Work. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Poposki welcomed the preparatory activities for the Southeast Europe Strategy 2020, which is based on the need for a more inclusive and enhanced cooperation of the regional countries with a view to attaining long term and stable regional development.

The participants in this Informal Ministerial exchanged views on the latest political developments in the Region of Southeast Europe, as well as on good-neighbourly relations, on the possibilities to enhance regional cooperation and the perspectives for European and Euro-Atlantic integration of the regional countries.

The participants welcomed the hitherto activities of the Republic of Macedonia as the incumbent SEECP Chair-in-Office and expressed the conviction that the forthcoming high level activities planned for this May and June that will complete the Macedonian June 2012-June 2013 SEECP Chairmanship will be successfully implemented.