Expressing his appreciation for the European Commission’s recommendations for opening accession negotiations with the Republic of Macedonia, Minister Poposki presented his expectation for the Council adopting a decision to start the negotiations as soon as possible. In this context, Mr. Poposki underlined that it is necessary to retain the credibility of the enlargement process when considering the case of Macedonia, as well, thus implying that the principle of assessing each candidate country by its own individual merits and achievements should remain the only criterion for making progress in the accession process. 

At his meeting with Commissioner Füle, which was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia in charge of European Affairs, Teuta Arifi, Minister Poposki and his host exchanged their views on the forthcoming High Level Accession Dialogue between the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and the European Commission. In that context, both Minister Poposki and Commissioner Füle expressed their mutual desire to focus the dialogue on monitoring the implementation of the reforms in the key areas such are the judiciary, the public administration, the fight against corruption, as well as the level of fulfilling the economic criteria necessary for EU membership.

Minister Poposki’s discussion with Commissioner Malmström, on the other hand, was focused on the progress that Macedonia has hitherto achieved in the areas of justice, freedom and security, with the two officials placing that progress in the context of the preparations for accession negotiations process. Chapter 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security, together with Chapter 23 - Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, will be the first chapters that will be opened for screening and accession negotiations according to the new European Commission methods on enlargement.

Minister Poposki updated Commissioner Malmström on the ongoing activities that the Republic of Macedonia has been pursuing in the fields of migration, asylum, border management, combating organized crime and police reforms. Mr. Poposki and Mme. Malmström also discussed the effects that have been achieved with the measures that Macedonia has been undertaking in order to prevent the occurrence of Macedonian nationals groundlessly seeking asylum in the EU member states. Minister Poposki underlined that, at this juncture, the trend of seeking asylum is reversing, whereas, in order to completely eradicate this phenomenon, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia will continue pursuing the public awareness raising campaigns, the socio-economic measures aimed at improving the living standard of the vulnerable population groups, the increased controls at the border crossings, as well as the close cooperation with the member states concerned. 

Commissioner Malmström, on her part, hailed the efforts that Macedonia has been investing in the accession process, as well as the country’s improved level of harmonization with the EU acquis in the areas of justice, freedom and security. Mme. Malmström also pointed out that the Directorate-General for Home Affairs remains prepared to strengthen its cooperation and dialogue with the relevant institutions and services in the Republic of Macedonia, aiming to continue the implementation of the reforms in this key area of the accession process. Moreover, Commissioner Malmström welcomed the activities of the Macedonian Government aimed at reducing the number of asylum seekers and recommended that these activities be continued under the same dynamics, focusing on the ones aimed at improving the socio-economic living conditions of the population groups concerned.