The heads of the diplomatic missions of the EU member states in the country led by the EU Ambassador David Gere, today, at the regular annual meeting with the Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, showed special interest in the activities for resolving the open issues with the Republic of Bulgaria due to which no consensus was reached. framework for Northern Macedonia in Brussels.

At the meeting, as announced by the Government, There was an undivided opinion that the process should continue as soon as possible and end with the start of negotiations for the country's EU membership.

Prime Minister Zaev stressed that it is important for us to continue the dialogue with Bulgaria, in the spirit of mutual respect and in the implementation of the friendship agreement through more intensive cross-sectoral cooperation.

Northern Macedonia's membership in the EU, he repeated Zaev, there is no alternative.

- At the same time, we remain firmly determined on certain issues, which are our red lines, such as the Macedonian identity and the Macedonian language, we do not negotiate about them. - added the Prime Minister.

He informed about the current and most important activities of ours European integration process.

Zaev explained in detail to the ambassadors the continuity of the ongoing reform processes, especially in the area of ​​justice, the fight against corruption, public administration reforms.

During the debate, the Prime Minister welcomed the support for EU enlargement by the Ambassador of Portugal Virginia Pina, He added that the position of the Portuguese presidency is very important, that the beginning of negotiations with the Republic of Northern Macedonia are among the priorities and that Portugal will make the first intergovernmental conference with Northern Macedonia to be held in the first half of 2021.

Prime Minister Zaev also shared the expectations from the comprehensive Economic and investment plan for the Western Balkans of the European Commission, which will mobilize funding of up to nine billion euros for investments in transport, energy, green and digital transitions, to create sustainable growth and jobs, boosting the country's economic development in the postwar period.

Zaev at the meeting expressed gratitude for the support of Brussels for the inclusion of countries from Western Balkans in the procurement of vaccines against covid-19 and expressed the expectation that there will be an acceleration of this procedure as a sign of continuity and solidarity in dealing with the pandemic.

- The unanimous support of the ambassadors of the EU member states for the clear perspective of Northern Macedonia as an EU member at the meeting is the strongest motivation for our reforms to bring European values ​​home - said Prime Minister Zaev at the regular annual meeting with the heads of diplomatic missions of EU member states in our country, which was held today in the Government of the Republic of Northern Macedonia.