Thursday, 8 March 2012
SWEDEN CONTINUES TO SUPPORT EU ENLARGEMENT
The members of the Parliamentary Group of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia for Cooperation with the Parliament of the Kingdom of Sweden and the Committee on European Issues had separate meetings with the Delegation from the Parliamentary Friendship Group with the Republic of Macedonia of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Sweden, headed by Mr. Oskar Öholm, and composed of Ms. Suzanne Svensson, Mr. Peter Rådberg, and Mr. Michael Svensson.
Ms. Marinela Tuševa, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Group, said that the political relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the Kingdom of Sweden are characterized by a high level of friendship and understanding. She expressed appreciation for the continuous support from Sweden for opening accession negotiations and for the expressed readiness of the Swedish Government to assist Macedonia in several areas with twinning projects.
Ms. Tuševa informed the guests that the Republic of Macedonia welcomes the reiterated recommendation of the European Commission to start the accession negotiations with the Republic of Macedonia and expressed hope that the Council will make this decision during the Danish Presidency of the European Union.
The Head of the Swedish Delegation Mr. Öholm pointed out that they too can learn something from Macedonia and its people, and said that he was surprised by the enthusiasm of the Macedonians.
Both sides agreed that they should work on intensification of the parliamentary, bilateral and multilateral, economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
At the meeting with the members of the Committee on European Issues, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee Mr. Ljabunishta pointed out that Sweden and Macedonia are friendly countries and expressed gratitude for the Swedish unconditional support of Macedonia. He said that the Swedish Presidency of the EU was important for Macedonia because of the positive European Commission Progress Report and the recommendation for start of the negotiations for membership, as well as for the visa liberalisation.
Mr. Öholm expressed satisfaction form the fact that the Swedish Parliament has established the Friendship Group with the Republic of Macedonia and said that they have come to Macedonia to learn more about the path of the country towards EU membership, but also to strengthen the already good relations between the two countries.
He added that Sweden has always supported EU enlargement, and that although Sweden is a small country they will do everything in their power to assist Macedonia in its Euro-integration process.