Woelfer: Positive climate felt in Macedonia


Austria strongly supports Macedonia on the European integration path, as well as other countries in the region, in the interest of prosperity and stability of the entire region, Austrian diplomats told the meeting with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev today.

Head of the Western Balkans Sector at the Austrian Ministry for Europe Klaus Woelfer, who led the delegation, assessed the positive climate in the country.

As the government’s press service announced, Woelfer congratulated Prime Minister Zaev on the reform changes regarding the challenges Macedonia was facing just one year ago.

Prime Minister Zaev said that for Macedonia, the support received by the country from EU friends, such as Austria, is of great significance and a strong encouraging message.

– Weare working on all necessary reforms, in the judiciary, public administration, secret services, the media, including all stakeholders and the opposition. We are building friendships in the neighborhood. After the agreement with the Republic of Bulgaria, we joined the process of building trust and a more active dialogue with Greece. Our expectations are that these efforts will be valued and our country will receive a clear recommendation from the EU in the spring, during the Austrian presidency and a date for the start of negotiations with the EU, Zaev said.

He added that to Macedonia, the EU and NATO mean economy, higher wages, new jobs for citizens, and proof of this are the moves on the investment plan, which already result in specific investment agreements in Macedonia.
At the meeting, they agreed that Macedonia and the Western Balkan countries should use the positive moment, work on reforms and resolve bilateral issues in order to become part of the EU.