Ekaterina Zaharieva hosted MPs from the European Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia
19 April 2018 News
Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva hosted a delegation of the European Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia lead by its Chair, Artan Grubi.
‘I am glad that you are here at such an important point in the enlargement process. I would like to congratulate you on the Commission’s recommendation that Republic of Macedonia should start accession negotiations,’ Minister Zaharieva stated before her guests.
The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that she was pleased with the positive tone of the EC’s report on the progress of the Republic of Macedonia, which was published on 17th of April as part of the Enlargement Package. The report also praises the Treaty of Amity, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia, which is cited as a positive model for the region, as Minister Zaharieva noted.
‘We have made this happen together. Sofia is Republic of Macedonia’s gateway to the EU. Your support means a lot to us,’ the Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Artan Grubi, highlighted. He congratulated Bulgaria on its work within the framework of the EU Presidency so far, adding that because of its efforts the attitudes towards enlargement are now much more favourable. ‘I hope that we will be able to offer you all the argumentation you need to help us during the June Council as well,’ Grubi also said.
‘From now on, you will have much work to do. In the time leading up to June, you will have the opportunity to adopt reform acts in your country. Such strong argumentation will ensure that we will have even greater support,’ Minister Zaharieva replied.
She added that Bulgaria had gone to a lot of effort to fight scepticism as regards EU enlargement, and to convince the other member states of the importance of the European prospects of the Western Balkans. ‘We have to show that here, in the Balkans, we are capable of change and reform. I can already see the positive change and the good results. We need to continue with our efforts,’ Bulgaria’s highest-ranking diplomat said.
Minister Zaharieva restated Bulgaria’s commitment to share its experience and expertise in synchronising domestic legislation with EU legislation and stepping up administrative capacity with its neighbours. ‘We will share our successes and our mistakes alike,’ she noted.
‘We honestly consider you our friends,’ Grubi stated.
Minister Zaharieva and the MPs from the Reopublic of Macedonia were unanimous about the fact that the change and the new spirit of friendship and cooperation in the relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia at a political and institutional level have reflected tangibly on citizens. ‘Numbers tell us more than words do. In 2017, we had the most intensive exchange of goods between our two countries, the growth just for the period after the signing of the Treaty being 11%,’ Minister Zaharieva commented.
This was the second meeting between Bulgaria’s highest-ranking diplomat and MPs from the Republic of Macedonia in less than a month. 21st and 22nd of March marked the first visit of a parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Macedonia in 11 years. Then, Minister Zaharieva hosted representatives of the Group on Cooperation with Bulgaria of the National Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia.
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