Macedonia's Government signed Monday a three-year memorandum of cooperation with the French Government aimed at supporting reforms in the public administration.

The document on behalf of the two governments was signed by Minister of Information Society and Administration, Ivo Ivanovski and French Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger.

Cooperation will be realised in five areas - support in modernizing public administration, implementation of the strategic action plan for reforms of the administration, development of strategic documents for reforms, electronic government and resumption of the cooperation with the National School of Administration in France (ENA).

"The cooperation, which is being established today, additionally affirms the European path of Macedonia as chosen by the citizens and the Government of Macedonia. It is being manifested through uncompromising reforms in the public administration and by following European examples, especially those of the Republic of France," Minister Ivanovski said after signing the agreement.

The French Ambassador said a decision had been reached for an ambitious cooperation agreement to be signed with the Macedonian Government, envisaging a number of activities to be organised for reform of the public administration that would be conducted by the Ministry of Information Society and Administration.

With the establishment of bilateral cooperation in 2002, 155 civil servants from Macedonia attended trainings at the National School of Administration in France, while 200 civil servants attended seminars and trainings held in Macedonia by French experts.