Monday, 2 September, 2019
PRESIDENT XHAFERI MEETS WITH DEPUTY HEAD OF EU DELEGATION AND EXPERT TEAM OF EU PROJECT "SUPPORT TO PARLIAMENT IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REFORMS"
Today, President Xhaferi had a protocol meeting with the Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in Skopje, Mr. Julian Vassallo. At the same time, this meeting also marked the completion of the two-year EU-funded project "Support to Parliament in the Implementation of Reforms". Aside from President Xhaferi, the meeting was also attended by Secretary General Ivanova and the two experts implementing the project, Mr. Edmond Miletić and Mr. Tibor Draskovics.
President Xhaferi welcomed the new Deputy Head of Delegation and wished him successful work, and gave a brief introduction on the past period of co-operation with the EU Delegation, expressing satisfaction and appreciation for the contribution to the achievement of results and reforms in the Assembly. He mentioned the Strategic Plan, an ambitious document which is the basis for further improvement of the functionality of the Assembly, and did not omit to mention the Jean Monnet Dialogue and the fruits of that new way of open and sincere dialogue between the political representatives in the legislature. He thanked the team of two qualified experts who, during the two years of intensive implementation of the project in co-operation with the Assembly, prepared several documents to support the ongoing reform process.
The expert team helped draft the Code of Ethics and the amendments to the Rules of Procedure within the current Jean Monnet Dialogue, which is supported by the European Parliament. The project provided training for the parliamentary service, the advisors to parliamentary bodies and parliamentary groups. In addition, documents and recommendations were drafted aimed at strengthening the financial and administrative independence of the Assembly, for the coordination between the Assembly and the Government, and for the oversight role of the Assembly.
Mr. Vassallo thanked for the reception and noted that the Assembly, despite its tight agenda, had done much in the two years in terms of accountability, transparency and functionality, as confirmed by the country's Progress Report, and therefore agreed with President Xhaferi that it was justly to expect a positive decision by the Council in October.
Both experts thanked for the co-operation and the professional attitude of the Parliamentary Service and confirmed that the Assembly has an excellent basis for achieving its goals, namely, financial independence, independent service and security.
Secretary General Ivanova also agreed with the aforesaid interlocutors regarding the open and sincere co-operation with the two experts, whereupon she reiterated that the Assembly remains open to further co-operation with the European Union Delegation in North Macedonia.