The Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Bojan Maricik today attended a briefing with the Ambassadors of the EU member states organized by the EU Delegation, where he presented the results achieved in the European integration process and the planned activities in the forthcoming period.

"The opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia is important and my main message today to all of you would be - not to lose this momentum, let's add dynamism to the European integration process and to ensure the security and stability of the region and Europe," said Deputy Prime Minister Maricik in his address to the ambassadors.

Maricik stressed that the Government is actively working on the European agenda and set priorities, and in parallel on the negotiations with Bulgaria in a friendly atmosphere to reach a joint and a mutually acceptable solution, expressing confidence that the fruits of the current work will come in the months ahead. In this context, Deputy Prime Minister Maricik said that it was high time we all joined forces and held an intergovernmental session as soon as possible for the country to begin the journey to full fledged EU membership.

In his address, he briefed the ambassadors on the activities to be implemented by the Secretariat for European Affairs in order to implement European reforms, as well as the planning and programming of development assistance provided by the European Union through IPA, as crucial in the effective implementation of reforms. The Head of the EU Delegation, David Geer, confirmed the cooperation so far and said that he would continue the Union's support in the implementation of the reforms and the European integration process of our country.

Finally, Deputy Prime Minister Maricik stressed the importance of integrating the Western Balkan countries into the European family to the ambassadors, for the progress and stability not only of the region, but of the entire European continent.

"What we are seeing these days, the Russian aggression on Ukraine, has clearly shown how important it is to complete the unification of the continent, to make it stronger and more resilient to any current or future threats. This has been the position we have been promoting for the last few decades. North Macedonia deserves the opening of accession negotiations with the EU and despite everything that is happening in our environment, we still have positive energy and optimism for the future of the country as part of the EU," said Deputy Prime Minister Maricik.