Wednesday, 30 November 2011
CONFIRMATION OF THE READINESS FOR FURTHER PROMOTION AND INTENSIFICATION OF THE COOPERATION BETWEEN BELGIUM AND MACEDONIA
Delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, headed by the Chairperson of the Committee Mr. Hajrula Misini and composed of the members of the Committee - Mr. Ilija Dimovski and Mr. Gordan Georgiev, is in a two-day visit to Brussels, the Kingdom of Belgium.
Yesterday, the Macedonian Delegation met with the Members of the European Parliament: Mr. Eduard Kukan, Mr. Richard Howitt, Ms. Norica Nicolai, Mr. Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, and Mr. Kristian Vigenin. The meetings were useful and important from the aspect of intensification of the cooperation with the European Parliament and strengthening of the Macedonian position in the process of integration in the European Union.
The Rapporteur for Macedonia in the European Parliament, the British MEP Mr. Richard Howitt, informed the Macedonian Delegation that the first draft of the Resolution on the Progress of Macedonia will be submitted on 20 December.
The MEPs reiterated the support Macedonia has in the European Parliament and expressed their understanding for the irrational problem we have regarding our constitutional name that is blocking our path towards joining the EU.
The Members of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia informed their colleagues that the priority and commitment of the Republic of Macedonia for building its European future with a clearly expressed public and political support in the realization of this goal continue to be our primary focus. They pointed out that after 7 years since becoming candidate country and 3 years since the first recommendation for opening the accession negotiations, the society is becoming frustrated and this affects the internal political situation, but also the open issues in the region.
The meetings were concluded in a positive atmosphere and hope that the meetings and exchange of opinions will continue in future.
Yesterday, the Macedonian parliamentarians also met with Mr. Herman De Croo, former President of the Chamber of Representatives of the Belgian Parliament and current Chairman of the European Affairs Committee, and with several members of the Committee.
The meeting confirmed the readiness for further development and intensification of the relations between the two countries, having in mind the fact that this was the first bilateral meeting on parliamentary level since 2004.
The Macedonian parliamentarians informed their hosts about the position of the country regarding its European integration process. They emphasized that for us, as a candidate country for European Union membership, it is important to have the support of the member countries, especially after the European Commission repeated its recommendation for opening the accession negotiations with the European Union and ahead of the December Summit of the EU.
The Members of Parliament from the Kingdom of Belgium showed interest and understanding for the developments in the Republic of Macedonia, and expressed their readiness for cooperation and assistance in the process of adoption of the European standards.