Today in Brussels, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov has a meeting with Mr. Frans Timmermans, first Vice President of the European Commission.

The focus of the talks with Vice President Timmermans was on the challenges that the country has been facing related to the migrant and refugee crisis, as well as the current security issues on the European continent.
President Ivanov informed that ever since the beginning of the crisis, the country has been relying on its proper resources, whereas help from the European Union is missing. In this sense, he asked for urgent technical and financial assistance for the country.

Macedonia is suffering the consequences of a non-functional mechanism of the Union and non-registration of refugees and migrants in one Member State of the Union. The Republic of Macedonia respects all international obligations in the treatment of migrants, paying serious attention to the humanitarian aspect, in spite of its overstretched capacities", stated President Ivanov after the meeting.

It is vital to restore control over EU external borders. It is necessary to have a joint EU strategy and coordinated international action to resolve this problem, President Ivanov noted at the meeting with EC Vice President Timmermans.

‎Timmermans stated that he understands the challenges that the country has been facing in order to handle the refugee and migrant crisis, underlining that he will advocate a rapid provision of assistance and support by the EU. Both interlocutors agreed that now is the right time for action.

President Ivanov emphasized that it is high time for Macedonia to resume its integration processes.
As regards the latest EC progress Report on Macedonia, President Ivanov said that he expects to see maximum commitment by all social and political factors in the country, with a view to correcting the setbacks noted in the report, while expressing his excpectation that after the elections, the Republic of Macedonia will finally receive a date for opening accession negotiations with the EU. "We need the transformative power of the accession process", said President Ivanov at the meeting.