Friday, 4 November 2011
9TH meeting of the joint parliamentary committee - republic of macedonia and the european union
On 3 and 4 November 2011, in the Crystal Hall of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, 9th Meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee - Republic of Macedonia and the European Union took place, on the basis of Article 114 from the Stabilization and Association Agreement signed between the Republic of Macedonia and the European Union, as well as on the basis of Rule 6 from the Rules of Procedure of the Joint Parliamentary Committee -Republic of Macedonia and the European Union.
The meeting was co-chaired by the two Co-Chairs Joint Parliamentary Committee -Republic of Macedonia and the European Union, Mr. Kenan Hasipi and Mr. Jorgo Chatzimarkakis. MPs and MEPs from both Delegations of the two parliaments took part at the meeting.
Mrs. Teuta Arifi, Vice-President of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in charge for EU Affairs, Mr. Nikola Popovski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Robert Liddell, Acting Head of the Delegation of the European Union in the Republic of Macedonia, as well as Mr. Richard Howitt, MEP Rapporteur for the Republic of Macedonia from the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament, addressed the gathering on the first day of the meeting.
Several topics were discussed at the meeting on the relations between the European Union and the Republic of Macedonia, marking the 10th Anniversary of the Ohrid Framework Agreement in the context of the cultural diversity in the state, reforms of the public administration, judiciary, the fight against corruption and organized crime, and the current visa liberalisation developments, civil society and citizens’ participation in decision-making process, the freedom of expression and media, the economic situation, crisis in the Eurozone and the effects on the Republic of Macedonia, as well as on transport corridors in the state and the use of European funds for their implementation.
After the constructive and fruitful debate at this meeting, Joint Recommendations were adopted.