REG/ COMMON GOAL OF THE COUNTRIES OF WESTERN BALKAN AND EUROPEAN UNION ARE EUROPEAN INTEGRATIONS

www.sep.gov.mk The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in
 charge of European Affairs Dr. Fatmir Besimi met the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for
 foreign affairs of Republic of Greece who cares the capacity as President of the Council of
 Ministers of the European Union H.E. Evangelos Venizelos.

 Besimi has welcomed Venizelos, noting that the visit is an excellent opportunity to discuss
 about European integrations and strengthening of the cooperation. By Venizelos were
 presented the priorities of the Greek Presidency with Council of EU. Besimi wished him
 successful implementation of the determined priorities and emphasized that it is important
 for Macedonia as well, having in mind that the full membership in European Union is a
 strategic priority for the Republic Macedonia.

 At the meeting also was discussed the deepening of economic cooperation, where Greece was highlighted as one of our most important trading partners and one of the largest foreign investors in the Republic Macedonia. They stressed also the positive experience that both countries have in their cooperation within the EU Instrument for Pre-Accesion Assistance – IPA.

In the period 1996-2006 before the establishment of the IPA instrument, the cooperation in the field of EU aids between Macedonia and Greece, mainly arise from the projects of the PHARE program and CARDS program, totaling approximately 50 million. Following this, in 2007 with the establishment of the IPA instrument this cooperation successfully continues in the form of IPA CBC Programme Macedonia – Greece 2007 – 2013.

Within this successful program which presents the best one (according to the results and the quality of projects) of all such bilateral SVS IPA Cross-border Co-operation in which Macedonia participated, Vice Besimi noted that so far are published three Calls for project proposals that have been approved for funding a total of 38 projects, with total amount of 7.23 million euros EU funds, for which have already been signed grant agreements, and some are already fully implemented. Ongoing is the evaluation of the Third call, after which (during the second quarter of this year) will follow further signing of grant agreements, which are expected to increase this amount to nearly 9.5 mil.

At the meeting was discussed the intensification of the cooperation on the field of cross-border cooperation and also finding innovative ways of cooperation in the forthcoming structural funds

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