Membership in NATO raised the country's rating and increased foreign direct investments, said Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski today in Vienna, where he held a lecture at the renowned diplomatic academy - The Vienna school of international studies, a top center of knowledge in the field of international issues and one from the oldest and most prestigious professional schools in the world.

Speaking on the topic "Start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia: New dynamics in EU enlargement", the Prime Minister referred to government policies and pointed out that the country is the bearer of the most positive political flows and processes not only in the Western Balkans, but also in Europe.

-Membership in NATO raised the international rating of North Macedonia both in political and security-economic and financial terms. The entry into the Alliance was not only a guarantee of peace and stability for North Macedonia, but also a guarantor for the Macedonian economy, for the citizens, for our overall economic growth and development, the Prime Minister pointed out.

As a result of the country's membership in the Alliance, he added, foreign direct investments in crisis conditions reached a record historical amount of 753 million euros, which is the highest level of foreign direct investments in the country and twice as much compared to 2016. The government, he said, also supports the development of domestic companies, and the government's good economic policies bring an increased economic standard for citizens, stable and well-paid jobs and room for increasing their competitiveness on the labor market.

- We also support the development of domestic companies, with a record payment of 23 million euros in state support to 410 companies, Prime Minister Kovacevski pointed out.

The Prime Minister added that by resolving the dispute with the Republic of Greece and signing the Prespa Agreement, we achieved one of the two strategic goals of the state, we became a member of NATO, which ensures lasting peace and strengthened the sovereignty of the state.

- The government led by SDSM implements integration policies, which showed a strong political will and a sincere desire for concrete progress in European integration, said the Prime Minister.

He added that North Macedonia complies with the values ​​of the European family, with EU policies, security aspects, and economic development. He stressed that the Government manages European funds with clear strategies, and confirmation of this is the fact that from 2017 to 2022 the Government has concluded 2.363 agreements with financial support from the European Union, partly with national co-financing.

"We are the only government so far that has planned funds and fully uses the money from the IPARD program," said the Prime Minister.

Following EU policies, the government adopted a new Energy Development Strategy until 2040, which is fully based on the European Green Deal, and this Strategy is already being implemented.

- Our priority is energy transition and energy independence. In conditions of crisis, we managed to contribute to the increase of interest in investments in renewable energy sources. In just over a year, as of March 31, 2023 – over 191 megawatts of total capacity from renewable sources has been installed. In fifteen months, the Regulatory Commission for Energy and Water Services has issued licenses for 400 power plants for the production of electricity from renewable sources. With this, the needs of households with an average consumption of ten Macedonian cities, that is, 76 Macedonian households, can be met - Kovacevski said.

With North Macedonia being a regional leader in the energy transition, it has a huge potential to become a green energy center, he added.