Welcome from the Chair

Welcome to the site of the European Parliament's delegation to the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

As the elected Chair of the delegation, I preside over our delegation's regular meetings and act as a Co-Chair of the JPC with the Sobranie - the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia. JPC meetings take place twice per year, alternating between the working places of the European Parliament and the Republic of North Macedonia.

The JPC considers all aspects of relations between the EU and the Republic of North Macedonia, particularly the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. The JPC may make recommendations to the European Parliament, to the Assembly and Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, to the Council of the EU and to the European Commission.

We are working together with our counterparts in the Sobranie to strengthen the activities of the JPC and thus contribute to an improved political atmosphere in the country and accelerate the EU accession process. We believe that parliamentary cooperation is a key part of the enlargement process, and I will work to ensure that a parliamentary perspective is included in discussions and negotiations.

The European Commission and the Council both confirm that North Macedonia delivered tangible and sustainable results in its reform efforts. In that respect we strongly welcome the long overdue approval of the Negotiating Framework by the Council on 18 July 2022, which marked the start of the accession negotiation process with North Macedonia, the holding of the first Intergovernmental Conference on 19 July 2022, and the ensuing screening exercise. These events mark the beginning of a new phase in the accession process for North Macedonia. They will add benefits and opportunities to the transformation processes in the country and the credibility of the EU enlargement, driven by objective criteria.

I look forward to working with our Sobranie counterparts. My delegation is ready to support our partners in their efforts and engage in a fruitful and productive parliamentary dialogue.

Andreas Schieder, MEP