Monday, 21 February 2011
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA IN THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATION PROCESS
The National European Integration Council of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia had a meeting with Mr. Eduard Kukan, MEP and Shadow Rapporteur on the Republic of Macedonia in the Group of European People’s Party and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovakia.
The Vice-Chair of the National European Integration Council, Ms. Silvana Boneva, as well as the Chair of the Committee on European Issues, Mr. Petar Pop Arsov, the Vice-Chair of the Foreign Policy Committee, Ms. Ermira Mehmeti Devaja, Representatives of the Joint Parliamentary Committee the Republic of Macedonia – EU, the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovakia to the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Robert Kirnag and other MPs, members and Representatives of the Council and the Committees attended the meeting.
Ms. Silvana Boneva informed the participants on the composition and the goals of the National European Integration Council and expressed great appreciation for the continuous support provided by the European People’s Party in the process of European Integration of the Republic of Macedonia , as well as for the personal contribution of the MEP, Mr. Eduard Kukan, as a Shadow Rapporteur on the Republic of Macedonia in the Group of European People’s Party.
The recent establishment of “Friends of Macedonia” - informal Group for support of the Republic of Macedonia in the European Parliament and the personal efforts of Mr. Kukan as member of this Group were welcomed, hoping that this Group will contribute to the open and strong support if the Euro-integrative process of the Republic of Macedonia in the European Parliament and that it will contribute in the efforts for granting a date on opening accession negotiations as soon as possible.
Mr. Eduard Kukan expressed appreciation for the opportunity to address before the participants and presented the activities and procedures which are used in the work of the European Parliament, underlining the latest Progress Report on the Republic of Macedonia for 2010.
The MEP, Mr. Eduard Kukan conveyed the message from the European Parliament which is eager to welcome us in the European Family.
The Chair of the Committee on European Issues, Mr. Petar Pop Arsov expressed appreciation for the support of the European Parliament for the Republic of Macedonia through the resolutions and recommendations arising from these resolutions.
The Member of the National European Integration Council from the Cabinet of the Resident of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Dimitar Minchev, the Vice-Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ms. Ermira Mehmeti Devaja and the MPs, Ms. Liljana Popovska and Ms. Hristina Runcheva participated in the discussion.