The European Union should now take a decisive step and decide on a start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President-Designate of the European Commission (EC), said at a meeting Thursday in Brussels.

Zaev at this meeting also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs, Bujar Osmani, in his own behalf and on behalf of the people of our country, expressed his gratitude for the support of the EU institutions, as well as the member states, for the European integration processes and internal reforms.

Positive decision of European leaders to start negotiations with North Macedonia is a logical response to the recognition of the country’s deliveries so far and a strong impetus for continuity of reforms aimed at achieving European standards, Prime Minister Zaev said at the meeting.

He stressed that any delay in the start of negotiations would leave space for influence from third parties to which democratic values are not a priority.

European Commission Vice President Timmermans emphasized that the policies and achievements of the Government of North Macedonia should be acknowledged and that the country has strong support from European institutions and the vast majority of EU member states that are in favor of starting the accession negotiation process.