The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today with members of the European Parliament, members of the Group of the European People’s Party, Mr. Jerzy Buzek, MEP from the Republic of Poland, Mr. Tunne Kelam, MEP from the Republic of Estonia, Mr. Miroslav Mikolasik, MEP from the Slovak Republic, and Mr. Laszlo Tokes, MEP from Romania and held a separate meeting with the European People’s Party – Working Group 3, led by Ms. Corien Wortman-Kool, Vice-President of the European People’s Party, MEP from the Netherlands.

At the meetings with the MEPs and with the members of the Working Group 3, views and information were exchanged about the integration process of the Republic of Macedonia, the progress achieved in the key reform areas, as well as the European perspective of the country, anticipating the Spring Report of the European Commission and the European Council in June.

President Ivanov, at the two meetings, expressed satisfaction with the continued support of the European Parliament regarding the Republic of Macedonia’s European integration and commended, in this regard, the engagement of the European People’s Party.

The MEPs concluded that the Republic of Macedonia has made progress in the EU integration process, and thus enjoys full support of the European Parliament to start negotiations for accession to the European Union.

At the meetings, views and information were exchanged about the current political situation in the country, the boycott of the Parliament and the possibilities to overcome the situation. The MEPs welcomed the efforts and the initiative of President Ivanov to resolve the political situation and stressed that it is essential for the further integration process of the Republic of Macedonia internal unity to be demonstrated, functioning at full capacity of the institutions and settlement of the political situation. President Ivanov stressed that the Republic of Macedonia is waiting, for four years, for the start of accession negotiations, something that it has long ago deserved. If the Republic of Macedonia was given a date at the December Council, most probably today it would not face such political situation, the President said, adding that for the Republic of Macedonia and its citizens are the positive examples of parallel movement in integration and overcoming bilateral issues are obviously not applicable.

The President briefed the MEPs with the latest developments in the process of overcoming the difference over the name, led under the United Nations auspices, as well as the commitment of the Republic of Macedonia in building good neighborly relations and regional cooperation.

In this context, President Ivanov informed MEPs on the goals of the Macedonian Chairmanship of the Southeast European Cooperation Process, suggesting that this regional initiative is an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the region to implement the European standards and reforms.