The Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Bojan Maricik today had a meeting with the Ambassador of Romania to North Macedonia, Adela- Monica Axinte, to discuss the dynamics of the European integration process of Northe Macedonia and the countries in the region, as well as the challenges in this period the country is facing on the road to starting negotiations. Ambassador Axinte reiterated Romania's strong support for the country's European integration, pointing out that EU membership is not only in the interest of North Macedonia, but also in the interest of the entire region of the Western Balkans. 

Deputy Prime Minister Maricik pointed out that bilateral relations between the two countries are good, but that there is room for their improvement. In that regard, he expressed expectation and readiness to deepen cooperation with Romania in the implementation of European reforms, both through IPA instruments and bilaterally by sharing experiences in the negotiation process, through the Twinning Cooperation Mechanism. 

Maricik and Axinte also briefly referred to the current situation in Ukraine, for which the Romanian Ambassador to the country, Axinte, expressed gratitude for our full compliance with the sanctions and measures of the European Union towards Russia.