Murtazani – Rosencrantz: A Joint Vision for an Expanding and Stable Europe Based on Values
Skopje – The Minister for European Affairs, Orhan Murtezani, hosted the Minister for European Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden, Jesika Rosenkranz, this morning, who has been on a working visit to the Republic of North Macedonia since yesterday.
– During the meeting at the Ministry for European Affairs, a tête-à-tête meeting and a plenary meeting of the delegations were held, where discussions took place regarding the European integration of North Macedonia, bilateral development cooperation, and Sweden’s support in the accession process to the European Union, the relevant ministry informed.
Minister Murtezani emphasized the importance of maintaining the credibility of the enlargement policy as one of the key instruments for stability and prosperity on the continent. He stressed that North Macedonia remains committed to reforms and to implementing the Copenhagen criteria as the main roadmap for membership in the Union.
In this context, it was highlighted that the accession process should be conducted exclusively on the basis of merit, and not on bilateral conditions that do not stem from European law and principles. According to Murtezani, the renewed dynamics of enlargement is an opportunity to restore trust in the European idea and that North Macedonia is ready to be part of a new wave of integration that will make Europe stronger and more united.
– The meeting also discussed the implementation of the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and the Reform Agenda, as the main mechanisms for supporting economic integration and structural reforms. Murtezani noted that North Macedonia has successfully fulfilled a significant part of the obligations outlined in the first phase of the Agenda, particularly in the areas of the rule of law, digitalization, and the business environment. Both ministers agreed that the Growth Plan represents a new opportunity for economic convergence with the EU single market and an additional impetus for the region to progress towards sustainable growth and competitiveness, according to the statement from the Ministry for European Affairs.
Within the discussions, the importance of bilateral cooperation between North Macedonia and Sweden was particularly emphasized, which is continuously carried out through projects of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), in accordance with the Strategy for Reform Cooperation with the Western Balkans and Turkey 2021-2027. (November 28, 2025)
