EUR 120 million in EU assistance for North Macedonia should arrive in the coming days, Deputy PM Nikola Dimitrov announced in Brussels after meeting European Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi.
“Under the financial agreement, signed last week, EUR 40 million in direct budget support is set to be allocated and also a tranche of the macro-financial package estimated at EUR 80 million is expected these days,” said Dimitrov, who is in charge of European affairs.
The Deputy PM was informed ‘in-depth’ by the European Commission about the Economic and Investment Plan, due next month.
“We have to be patient because consultations are ongoing. Sometime in the beginning of October it should be presented. It’s evident a great chance is ahead for infrastructural connectivity, for green agenda, and for economic development of our country and the whole region,” Dimitrov stated.
He said he discussed the opening of EU accession talks, expected by the year’s end, with the Commissioner and thanked him for the draft-negotiating framework. Dimitrov called it ‘quality’ document.
“I also thanked him for his role, and that of his team, as regards the new methodology paving the way for the green light of the March political decision on the opening of negotiations. I thanked them for their part of the job regarding the negotiating framework. Let’s not forget, the Commission has prepared a good draft document,” Deputy PM Dimitrov said.
At the EU, the negotiating framework is being discussed at a technical level with the member countries ironing out their differences, especially in terms of the demands coming from Sofia.
