Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev in Vienna on the sidelines of Saturday’s summit on migration along the Balkan route held several bilateral meetings with his counterparts, including Austria’s Chancellor Christian Kern, Hungary’s Viktor Orban, Slovenia’s Miro Cerar and Croatia’s Tihomir Oreskovic.

Praising Macedonia for the measures it has taken in tackling the migrant crisis, the interlocutors primarily discussed ways to boost ‘the already favorable relations’ fostered between Macedonia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia.

“All of my counterparts with whom I held talks expressed clear support to Macedonia’s bid to join the EU. At the same time, these countries support Macedonia in handling the migrant crisis and their representatives said they expected the political crisis in Macedonia to be concluded with the December elections. According to them, in the midst of a migrant crisis, Macedonia with a stable government will be able to better address challenges and to act as a more credible partner of the Union,” PM Dimitriev told after his meetings in Vienna.

Moreover, Saturday’s migration summit in Vienna ended with a conclusion that the Balkan route must remain shut and that Macedonia is part of the final resolution to the long-lasting crisis facing Europe.