On day two of the visit of the Economics and Security Committee - Sub-Committee on Transition and Development, in the headquarters of the EU Delegation to the Republic of North Macedonia, the NATO PA delegates were given briefings on “Overview of the EU’s relations with North Macedonia”. On this occasion, under the moderation of Ms Ausrine Armonaite, rapporteur of the Sub-Committee on Transition and Development from Lithuania, the participants were addressed by H.E. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar, Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of North Macedonia, on “The Political Situation” and Mr Freek Janmaat, Head of Operations Section for Economic Issues, Institutions Building and Pre-Accession Reporting, on “The Economic Situation”.
The continuation of the visit was marked by the meeting of the NATO PA delegates in the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, moderated by Mr Ivans Klementjevs from Latvia, Chairperson of the Economics and Security Committee, together with President of the Assembly Mr Talat Xhaferi, during which the most important work results of the highest legislative house in the previous period were presented, with special reference to the Euro-Atlantic integration process, and the upcoming activities in that regard.
This was followed by a meeting in the headquarters of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, under the moderation of Mr Osman Askin Bak, NATO PA Vice-President from Turkey, together with President Zoran Zaev, who presented the most important results of the Government’s work in the previous period, challenges for the domestic and foreign policy of North Macedonia, models for overcoming them, as well as plans for the upcoming period. On this occasion, there was special reference to the issues of European future of the North Macedonia and the significance of considering this issue within the regional context.
In the final part of the visit of the Economics and Security Committee - Sub-Committee on Transition and Development of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to Skopje, the Republic of North Macedonia, there was a meeting organised for the representatives of the NATO PA, moderated by Ms Ausrine Armonaite, rapporteur of the Sub-Committee on Transition and Development from Lithuania, together with Ms Marija RISTESKA, President, Centre for Research and
Policy Making, on “Political, Diplomatic and Economic Challenges Confronted by North Macedonia”.
In the final part of the visit of the Economics and Security Committee - Sub-Committee on Transition and Development, a meeting of NATO PA delegates was held, moderated by Matteo Luigi Bianchi from Italy, Vice-Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on Transition and Development, at the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of North Macedonia. On this occasion, the participants in the meeting were addressed by Ms Radmila Shekerinska, Minister of Defence, on “North Macedonia’s Military Preparations for NATO Accession and Regional Security Challenges”. She presented the results achieved by the host country on its path towards the Euro-Atlantic integration in the said context, and challenges which it had faced in the previous period. She made a special reference to the plans set for the upcoming period. A significant part the NATO PA delegates’ discussion on this topic was dedicated to the Euro-Atlantic integration process of the Republic of North Macedonia, and the overall consideration of the presented issues in the regional context.
About 30 parliamentarians from NATO member states participated in the visit to Skopje, the Republic of North Macedonia, by the Economics and Security Committee - Sub-Committee on Transition and Development, but also there were meetings held with senior officials of the Assembly and the Government of North Macedonia, state institutions, representatives of international organisations etc.
With the end of this meeting, the Economics and Security Committee - Sub-Committee on Transition and Development completed its work.
