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Laima Andrikienė: ‘Successful integration of North Macedonia into the EU also lies in Lithuania’s interests’

Press release, 12 February 2021

 

Parliamentary cooperation between Lithuania and North Macedonia is gaining momentum. Today, a joint remote meeting between the parliamentary friendship groups was held, where members of the Seimas Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the Western Balkan Countries, including North Macedonia, met with members of the Parliamentary Cooperation Group of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia with the Parliaments of the Baltic States, including Lithuania. Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Head of the Seimas Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the Western Balkan Countries, underlined Lithuania’s support for North Macedonia’s aspirations for European integration and highlighted the appreciation of the progress made so far.

 

Nikola Dimitrov, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, recalled the first meeting of the Vilnius Group in May 2000 in Vilnius, where the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of nine countries, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, signed a joint declaration on NATO’s enlargement, undertaking to support each other in seeking membership. Mr Dimitrov welcomed the fact that Lithuania joined the Alliance in 2004 and that North Macedonia became member of the Alliance in March 2020. According to Mr Dimitrov, the European Union in general and the capitals of its Member States in particular  demonstrate a desire to complete the EU accession of the Balkan countries. However, COVID-19 and, in the case of North Macedonia, Bulgaria’s position, have slowed down the opening of the accession negotiations. According Mr Dimitrov, the opening of negotiations with North Macedonia is needed to ensure better credibility of the EU, as the decision to launch membership negotiations with North Macedonia was taken by the EU back in 2019. The citizens of North Macedonia support their country’s aspiration to become a fully-fledged member of the EU: as many as 69 % of the population in North Macedonia are in favour of EU membership.

Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas

 

Audronius Ažubalis, Deputy Head of the Seimas Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations, observed that Macedonia’s accession to the EU required support from all EU Member States. In response, Mr Dimitrov stressed that Macedonia was strengthening its cooperation with Bulgaria and a commission composed of historians of both countries had been established. The Deputy Prime Minister also believed that history and identity issues undermined the integrity of the negotiation process and that they were not a subject of international relations. The Deputy Prime Minister underlined that support from Lithuania and other Baltic States was needed and was very welcome in all formats, both at the parliamentary and government levels.

 

Vytautas Juozapaitis, Chair of the Seimas Committee on Culture, suggested that culture and cooperation in the field of culture could help to achieve better mutual understanding. According to Valdas Rakutis, Deputy Head of the Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations, North Macedonia would benefit from more frequent presentations of the country both in Lithuania and other Baltic States.

Ms Andrikienė, Head of the Group, also serving as Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), invited colleagues from North Macedonia to cooperate at PACE level as well.

 

Joint meetings between the two groups will continue to take place in the future. A visit of a delegation of the Seimas of the Republic Lithuania to North Macedonia is scheduled for this autumn.

 

Jolita Siriūtė, e-mail: [email protected]

   Last updated on 04/13/2021 13:48
   Monika Kutkaitytė