State Secretary Metelko-Zgombić meets with North Macedonia’s Justice Minister Marichikj

State Secretary for Europe Andreja Metelko-Zgombić met on Thursday with North Macedonia’s Minister of Justice Bojan Marichikj

State Secretary for Europe Andreja Metelko-Zgombić met on Thursday with North Macedonia’s Minister of Justice Bojan Marichikj. The talks focused on the status of North Macedonia’s European integration, the prospects of opening accession negotiations, as well as the continuation of Croatia’s political and technical support.

Marichikj thanked Metelko-Zgombić for Croatia’s continued support for North Macedonia’s European journey. He said that his country had invested great effort during the previous four years to implement reforms and renew good-neighbourly relations, but unfortunately had still not opened entry talks. Metelko-Zgombić underlined that Croatia would continue to push for reaching the agreement on the negotiating framework as soon as possible and holding the first intergovernmental conference with North Macedonia. In that context, Croatia supports the Presidency’s efforts to find a compromise between North Macedonia and Bulgaria. The state secretary said it was important to maintain focus on opening the accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania as soon as possible.

Moreover, Metelko-Zgombić welcomed the intensive cooperation with Croatia’s Ministry of Justice and Public Administration, adding that Croatia was the rights partner for the transfer of negotiating experience, including that with Chapter 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights). Marichikj, among other things, underscored satisfaction with the successfully realized twinning projects in the area of justice.

In addition, the two officials expressed satisfaction with the bilateral relations dynamic, as confirmed by the upcoming visit by North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski to Croatia.

Marichikj is in Zagreb as part of an official visit to Croatia’s Justice Ministry.

 

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