The EU representatives and members of the Macedonian delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki, reviewed Macedonia’s progress in drawing closer to the EU, and exchanged views on political developments in the country and the envisaged institutional, political and economic reforms. The EU representatives expressed the conviction that the launch of accession negotiations was conditional on the implementation of these reforms, and thus urged Macedonia to further strengthen its public administration and promote reforms in border management, migration and the fight against organised crime and corruption.

 

Minister Rupel and Macedonian Foreign Minister Milososki (photo: Bobo)

 

“Macedonia holds its future in its hands,” Minister Rupel emphasised and called for a clear European perspective for Macedonia and other Western Balkan countries.

 

The EU representatives also assessed political and economic relations with Morocco. Members of the EU delegation and the Moroccan delegation discussed the situation in the Western Sahara, political dialogue in the Mediterranean region and the development of cooperation between the EU and Africa. On this occasion, delegations of the European Commission and Morocco signed a joint declaration on priorities for cooperation in the energy sector.

 

Minister Rupel and Portuguese Foreign Minister Amado (photo: Bobo)

 

Members of the EU delegation and the Chilean delegation made a positive assessment of cooperation between the EU and Chile, and called for its further strengthening, particularly in social cohesion, higher education, innovation and competitiveness. The meeting was aimed at enhancing cooperation between the EU and Chile, as well as the whole of Latin America, and reviewing the preparations for the EU-LAC Summit to be held in Lima on 16 and 17 May 2008 during Slovenia’s EU presidency.

 

In this regard, Minister Rupel noted that as the next country to hold the presidency of the Council of the EU, Slovenia would like to strengthen dialogue between the EU and Latin America. Social cohesion and climate change were brought up as potential main topics of the EU-LAC Summit. In this context, participants of the Association Council meeting expressed their willingness to engage in preparations for the summit.

General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting (photo: Bobo)