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Deputy Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk visits Skopje

08.12.2019

“North Macedonia deserves green light to open negotiations to join the European Union based on the implemented reforms and the good neighbourly relations it pursues. We expect this decision from the European Council,” said Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk during his visit to North Macedonia, during which he summarised Polish presidency of the Berlin Process and took part in political consultations with North Macedonia’s representatives.

Wiceminister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk w Skopje

The deputy chief of Polish diplomacy met with his counterpart at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Andrej Zhernovski. The officials talked about North Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, cooperation within the Berlin Process and bilateral relations. Polish deputy foreign minister also met with Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs of the Assembly of North Macedonia Artan Grubi, with whom he discussed parliamentary cooperation between Poland and North Macedonia.

While in Skopje, the deputy foreign ministers of Poland and North Macedonia opened together a conference titled “Lessons learned from Poznan: Ahead of 2020 North Macedonia’s and Bulgaria’s Co-Presidency of the Berlin Process.” The event was organised by the Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” Skopje (IDSCS), a think tank from North Macedonia, in cooperation with the Centre for Eastern Studies. The conference brought together civil society representatives, previously involved in the Think Tank Forum and the Civil Society Forum as part of the Western Balkans Summit in Poznan and the regional conference of think tanks in Skopje.

The conference was devoted to the preparations ahead of the next presidency of the Berlin Process, sharing Polish experiences and a summary of the achievements of Poland’s presidency. “Civil society organisations, especially think tanks and youth were the main focus of our agenda. During the Poznan summit, the civil society was more involved than ever before,” emphasised the deputy chief of Polish diplomacy while thanking Balkan think tanks for their contribution to the work during the presidency. “We are happy that youth will continue to be among top priorities of the new presidency and that the initiative of think tank forum we launched will carry on,” he added.

Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk also referred to the financial support for the Western Balkans under the Polish presidency of the Berlin Process. While pursuing its priorities (economy, mutual infrastructural links, civil society and security) Poland donated EUR 1.52 million to the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), which funds infrastructural projects in the region. Furthermore, Poland contributed EUR 180 thousand to the Regional Youth Cooperation Office, EUR 40 thousand to the action plan on small arms and light weapons, and GBP 20 thousand on organised crime monitoring centre in the region. Recognising the importance of supporting youth, Poland also finances six scholarships for students enrolled at the College of Europe in Natolin.

The deputy chief of Polish diplomacy also proposed that a part of the WBIF’s funds should be spent on infrastructural assistance for Albania following the tragic earthquake, which recently struck this country.

 

MFA Press Office

 

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