Sweden supports Macedonia

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  • Sv. Nikola
    Junior Member
    • Sep 2008
    • 43

    Sweden supports Macedonia

    Sweden fully supports the EU enlargement and the Euro-integration process of Macedonia and other Balkan states, stated Swedish Minister for EU Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom after meeting Vice PM for EU Affairs Ivica Bocevski on Monday.

    She said she hoped Macedonia's progress would be included in the forthcoming report of the European Commission (EC), as well as the areas where more work needed to be done. Malmstrom also stated she was expecting the visa regime to be facilitated and other results to be achieved next year when Sweden would take over EU's presidency in July 2009.

    The Swedish Minister added it was too early to consider giving a date for EU membership talks, underlying the importance of EC's report on the progress made by Macedonia. - We will do everything in our power to improve this issue, however it is too early to discuss it, noted Malmstrom.

    Answering a journalist question, she said the Greek-Macedonian name row was a bilateral issue. - The Government of Sweden expect swift row settlement, but it shouldn't hinder Macedonia's EU integration.

    - We don't consider that the name issue is one of the criteria, because there are clearly determined Copenhagen criteria that refer to every country aspiring to join the Union. We hope the issue will be settled, because it contributes to improving the political condition, stated Malmstrom.

    Vice PM Bocevski noted that the excellent relations existing between Macedonia and the Kingdom of Sweden - being one of the strong supporters of EU's enlargement policy - were reaffirmed at the meeting.

    - We were assured that this policy will resume towards Macedonia. This has been an excellent opportunity for discussing about Sweden's EU presidency in mid 2009, stated Bocevski. He thanked for the Swedish ongoing support, as well as for country's donor assistance through SIDA - the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency.

    EU Minister Malmstrom also met Monday with Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki. //27.10.08
  • Metodija
    Junior Member
    • Sep 2008
    • 16

    #2
    Swedes are smart and civilized people!

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