ZAGREB, 6 May (Hina) - North Macedonia on Tuesday assumed the one-year presidency of the European Union Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region (EUSAIR), a political framework through which ten countries collaborate across the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.
"This is a historic moment for North Macedonia," the country’s Minister for European Affairs, Orhan Murtezani, said during the Adriatic-Ionian Region Forum held on the Greek island of Crete.
EUSAIR was established ten years ago, and its member states include Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania and San Marino.
The previous chair was Greece.
EU candidate countries like North Macedonia cooperate with EU member states such as Croatia and Greece through joint projects focused on environmental protection, cultural heritage preservation and transport connectivity.
This collaboration provides valuable experience in tapping EU funds, helping these countries move closer to EU membership while contributing to the EU's goal of ensuring stability along its borders.
"EUSAIR helps us to connect," said Murtezani, whose country became a member of the initiative in 2020.
Around 70 million people live along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts and in the surrounding hinterlands.
During its first presidency of EUSAIR, North Macedonia’s main priority will be to accelerate EU enlargement.
Murtezani also said that the fifth pillar of EUSAIR, social cohesion, will be especially important for his country.
"We can’t talk about joining the EU if people can’t stand on their own two feet," he said, highlighting the fight against poverty.
Over the past year, Greece held the presidency of EUSAIR, which is why this year's annual forum is being hosted there.
This has always been a key region for Greece, said Tasos Hatzivasiliou, Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece. One of Greece's top priorities during its EUSAIR presidency was the enlargement of the EU to include the Western Balkans.
All these countries historically and economically belong to the wider European family, of course, depending on the criteria set by the EU, he stated.
During its presidency, Greece also strongly advocated for cohesion policy, calling on Brussels to maintain EU budget funding aimed at reducing disparities between the wealthier and poorer regions of the Union.
