Pendarovski-Maas: Germany reconfirms strong support to North Macedonia’s EU integration

North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski met with Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday during his official visit to the country.

President Pendarovski and German FM Maas agreed that both countries have fostered relations based on friendship, trust and mutual respect, the President’s Office said in a press release.

President Pendarovski said Germany is North Macedonia’s key political partner and largest trading partner, providing its permanent support to Skopje’s EU and NATO accession.

N. Macedonia’s President  thanked Maas for the Bundestag’s ratification of the country’s NATO Accession protocol.

Interlocutors also exchanged opinions on the recent developments related to North Macedonia’s European integration, with Pendarovski saying that the country has invested much effort in meeting the European criteria, reaffirming the expectation that the EU will determine a date for the start of accession negotiations.