Friday, 18 March 2011
MEETING OF THE NATIONAL EUROPEAN INTEGRATION COUNCIL AND MS. SANDRA KALNIETE, MEP
The National European Integration Council of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia had meeting with Ms. Sandra Kalniete, Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur on the New Policies in the Area of Agriculture for the new Member States of the European Union, Former Minister on Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Former Member of the European Committee on Agriculture and Fishing.
The Vice- Chair of the National European Integration Council, Ms. Sivana Boneva, the Chairman of the Committee on European Issues, Mr. Petar Pop Arsov, the Co-Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, the Republic of Macedonia – EU, Mr. Aleksandar Spasenovski, the Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee, Mr. Vasko Shutarov, Representatives and Members of the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Water Resources Management, as well as Members and Representatives of the Council participated in the Meeting.
Ms. Silvana Boneva welcomed the MEP, Ms. Sandra Kalniete and informed the participants on the composition and the competences of the National European Integration Council , underlining that the activities of the Council aim to significantly contribute in the European Integration process of the country, to constructively contribute in the achievement of the strategic interest of the Republic of Macedonia for integration in the European Union, on which there is wide political and civic consensus, as well as high support for membership in the European Union.
The MEP, Ms. Sandra Kalniete, reaffirmed the support of the European Parliament for the Republic of Macedonia in the framework of the European Integration path of the Republic of Macedonia through the newly established informal group for Support of the Republic of Macedonia “Friends of Macedonia” and the adopted Draft-resolution on the Progress of the Republic of Macedonia drafted by the Slovenian MEP, Mr. Zoran Thaler. The Resolution was adopted by the Foreign Policy Committee of the European Parliament, and reads that the Republic of Macedonia should open the accession negotiations immediately.
The Chairman of the Committee on European Issues, Mr. Petar Pop Arsov, the Co-Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, the Republic of Macedonia – EU, Mr. Aleksandar Spasenovski, the Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee, Mr. Vasko Shutarov, Mr. Pance Dameski, member of the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Water Resources Management of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia and Mr, Dimitar Minchev from the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Macedonia addressed at the Meeting.
The participants underlined the importance of the farmers, that they should be addressed to since they are important part of the economy, the Republic of Macedonia should provide them to compete on the open EU Market with their products.
Also, it was underlined that the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Water Resources Management makes efforts for approximation of the Macedonian agriculture with the Common European Agriculture Policy.