Kovacevski: EU, U.S. Send Messages of Support to Region’s Efficient EU Integration

Photo: North Macedonia Government

North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski said that during a conference of Western Balkan leaders who met in Skopje, on Jan. 22 to discuss the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, the European Union (EU) and the United States sent an unequivocal message of support to the region’s efficient EU integration.

Kovacevski said at a joint press conference with Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’ Brien that the participants had adopted a declaration committing themselves as the Western Balkan leaders to developing their respective states under European standards.

“We have underlined in our joint declaration the enormous importance of cooperation between all of us in the region, as a strategic alliance between Western Balkan states, to reach our individual goals, which also constitute our common goal, to join the EU,” North Macedonia’s PM said.

Kovacevski underlined that the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans “is the most serious confirmation by the EU so far that the region will have a concrete plan for efficient EU integration,” and that the realization of the Plan the GDP per capita will double in the next ten years in the Western Balkans.

The Macedonian prime minister also said that everyone in the region recognized the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans as an excellent opportunity to access the EU single market, a tool to accelerate progress in the accession process, extremely important for the economic development of the region and achieving European standards of living.