At a meeting today in Skopje, the Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova and the Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of North Macedonia Nasser Nuredini marked the successful completion of the project for exchange of experience in the EU pre-accession process.

The project “Strengthening the institutional and administrative capacity for negotiations under Chapter 27 ‘Environment’ of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of the NMK and its regional structures in the process of accession to the EU” was fudned under the program “International Cooperation for development” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was implemented in the period July-September 2022. Its implementation contributes to achieving EU goals in the Western Balkans in the short and long term.

Expressing gratitude for the hospitality and for the active role by the Macedonian side for the success of bilateral cooperation, Minister Rositsa Karamfilova shared her high assessment of the work by the teams of 15 MOEW experts and 53 experts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Spacial Planning of the NMK involved in the implementation of the six thematic modules of the project - biodiversity, water, environmental impact assessment, waste, climate change, and air quality.

In return, Minister Nuredini expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the Bulgaria in support of the process of accession of the Republic of North Macedonia to the EU in the field of environment. He confirmed the considerable interest by NMK participants, especially in the field of nature conservation and biodiversity, which prompted the second extraordinary round of discussions in Bansko that focused on the implementation of the CITES Convention, the legislation on zoos, and managing invasive species.

“The results show the significant potential of the joint work by our ministries. We can use them as a basis for a subsequent project focused on the practical implementation of the EU legal framework,” commented Minister Karamfilova.

Accepting the proposal, Minister Nuredini expressed his belief that such a project would contribute to both sides’ continued and consistent efforts to achieve sustainability of results and address existing challenges.

During the meeting, the two ministers also shared their high assessment of the achievements within the framework of the joint working group for European cooperation - green transition and digital transformation and the rule of law.

The meeting ended with a consensus around the idea for ​​a future declaration for cooperation and implementation of joint projects. The two ministers unanimously confirmed that this act will strengthen the capacity for joint work.

The Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of North Macedonia Nasser Nuredini accepted the invitation by Minister Rositsa Karamfilova to conduct an upcoming bilateral meeting in Bansko in mid-December this year.

“I believe that our future joint activities will contribute to the effective implementation of high environmental standards and ensure a healthy environment, as well as guarantee the prosperity and consolidation of the European perspective in our region,” concluded Minister Rositsa Karamfilova.

During the meeting, Bulgaria’s candidacy to host the 29th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Climate Change was discussed.

Future cooperation projects on cross-border issues were also commented.