The United Kingdom is continuously supporting the EU enlargement process and Macedonia's EU integration bid, the British Minister for Europe, David Lidington told Deputy PM for European Affairs Fatmir Besimi at Monday's meeting in London.

Lidington at the meeting urged progress to be made in line with the December conclusions of the European Council in relation to the priorities stemming from the High Level Accession Dialogue (HLAD), good neighbourly relations and the name issue, the Secretariat for European Affairs said in a press release.

The UK supports the EU integration process of Macedonia by implementing projects in several areas, including public governance, support to the reform in public administration, capacity building in Parliament and rule of law and fundamental rights.

Deputy PM Besimi during his working visit to London also visited the House of Lords where he met with Lord Bowness and Lord Maclennan. He held talks with Owen Jenkins - Foreign and Commonwealth Office Director for EU Enlargement and the Western Balkans.

At the meetings, the Deputy PM focused on the activities conducted in Macedonia in relation to meeting HLAD tasks and the ongoing reform processes.

He stressed that the HLAD contributed to introducing a fresh dynamics in implementing reforms in five areas, emphasising that the country's progress was recognised in the spring report of the European Commission.

Interlocutors also discussed bilateral cooperation and the support provided by the UK to Macedonia. Moreover, the support for Macedonia's EU integration bid was confirmed during Besimi's visit.