The Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bojan Maricik today hosted the visit of the Federal Minister for EU and the Constitution of the Republic of Austria Karoline Edtstadler.
"It is a great honour and pleasure for me to host Austrian Minister Edtstadler today, with whom we exchanged views on several important topics, including the future of the region, the security crisis and cooperation between the two countries."
For us and our country, this visit is a sound confirmation that the Western Balkans remain high on the agenda of the European Union and its member states, and that Austria remains a reliable supporter of the Union's enlargement policy with the countries of the region. Austria recognizes the true and unquestionable orientation of North Macedonia towards Euro-Atlantic values and ideals, and gives unreserved support and commitment especially to North Macedonia and Albania in the European integration process.
The future of our country and the whole region is European, and I think it is time to confirm that. North Macedonia has made superhuman efforts and managed to show being a reliable partner of the EU and that it does not change its policy overnight, even when our hard work is not valued and does not go in favour of the enlargement policy. We have made progress and will continue to walk the European path with dedication. We expect the European Union to loudly reaffirm its interests in the unification of the European continent and after a long period to return to the dynamics of enlargement to the countries of the Western Balkans that have been waiting for more than a decade at the gates of the EU.
In these tough times when peace, stability, security and democracy are at stake, Europe's unity is even more important. Together we must think of the future and not leave room for undermining the credibility of the European Union, European values and ideals. No one expected that in the 21st century, there would be war on European soil, and that Europe would live days of economic and energy crisis, despite the pandemic that already hit us hard. That is why I consider this year crucial not only for the future of the European Union, but also for the future of the Western Balkan countries, which have no other path but European.
At the meeting with Кaroline we also discussed the dialogue with Bulgaria and the neighbourly relations, which are in a more ambitious phase of cooperation, and from which we expect acceleration of the possibility of gaining conditions for holding the first Intergovernmental Conference with the European Union. In these five years we have done a lot to get our country back on the European path, and the European Commission in its reports has repeatedly acknowledged that we meet the conditions for obtaining a date for the start of negotiations.
We will continue to implement serious processes and positive policies. Reforms are not our priority only for the fulfilment of our strategic goal - integration into the European Union, on the contrary, we implement the reforms primarily for our citizens who deserve to live in a European and modern society.
The great friendly support from the Republic of Austria to North Macedonia results in good bilateral relations politically and economically and open chances for their further advancement. Austria is one of our most important partners and I would like to express my deep gratitude for your continued political and economic support, as well as for the development assistance provided to our country. In the last two and a half decades we have witnessed excellent cooperation and achieved results in the implementation of many projects in various sectors that are of great importance for the development of the country, such as environmental protection, energy efficiency and job creation. The fact that Austria is one of our strategic partners has been visible since the beginning of the corona virus pandemic through the supply of our country with the first quantities of vaccines, but also during the migrant crisis - help and support that our country sincerely appreciates.
On behalf of the good relations with the Republic of Austria and on behalf of the development and progress of the Republic of North Macedonia, I hope to deepen the cooperation and support the reform activities after the joint meeting that you Karoline together with the Austrian business community will have with government representatives: Deputy Prime Minister Bytyqi and Minister of Transport and Communications Bochvarski. The Republic of North Macedonia remains a faithful partner of the European Union that will successfully contribute to the development of the most important European policies and will invest equally as other member states in responding to challenges, because a peaceful and stable Balkans means a stable and prosperous Europe," Maricik said.