Deputy PM in charge of European affairs Fatmir Besimi and Alexandra Cas Granje - Director of the European Commission's (EC) Enlargement Directorate General - signed Tuesday financing agreements between the Macedonian government and the EC in amount of 30 million EUR. The EC with the funds supports reform resumption and eight projects for cross-border cooperation between Macedonia and Greece.

Besimi and Cas Granje signed the financing agreement between the government and the EC for the National Programme under IPA – Transition and Institution Building Component for 2012, which amounts to 28.2 million EUR, and the IPA 2012 Cross-border Programme with Greece, envisaging nearly 1.5 million EUR. Approximately 275.000 EUR are set to be singled out from the country's budget.

"This financial programme aims at supporting actions and reforms in public administration, judiciary, internal affairs and fundamental rights, development of the private sector, agriculture and rural development and environment and climate changes. Macedonia in cooperation with the EU is securing an additional support in reform implementation on its road to EU membership," stated Besimi.

The cross-border programme with Greece envisages eight projects as 38 have been realized thus far. "Macedonia has cross-border projects with its neighbors Albania and Bulgaria and a joint project with Kosovo is set to be launched next year," the Deputy PM added.

Alexandra Cas Granje said the country was making progress with respect to EU reforms noting that the EC had recommended accession negotiations to be opened for the fifth time.

"These recommendations are based on hard work, but you will be also facing a lot of work in many areas. We are not at the end of the road," she stated.

The EC's financial assistance  is provided to enable the country to successfully complete and meet EU membership criteria, according to her. "Annually the country gets approximately 100 million EUR and these funds should play a role in supporting the country allowing additional social and economic development," said Cas Granje.

Financial assistance under 2012 IPA Component I aims at providing Transition Assistance and Institution Building which is needed to meet the objective set with the Copenhagen accession criteria. The IPA 2012 Cross-border Programme with Greece supports joint actions to promote economic development, improve employment opportunities, develop sustainable tourism, improve health services, reinforce cultural links and develop environmental management.