On the eve of our third strategic partnership – with the UK

Announced foreign direct investment (FDI) for Macedonia in the amount of six billion euros

Recently in Tirana, on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit, the prime ministers of Macedonia and the UK, Hristijan Mickoski and Kir Starmer, said it had « agreed on a strategic partnership agreement ».
In his first statement from Tirana, Prime Minister Mickoski described the agreement as historic, stressing that it would provide an investment cycle worth about six billion euros in infrastructure, rail, transport, health and other areas.
– With this intergovernmental agreement, I am sure that we will have even greater bilateral cooperation, we will strengthen our relationships. This will improve and share the experience of the United Kingdom in that part of the EU and I think the Balkans is a really inspiring place – said Mickoski from Tirana.
For his part, the British prime minister stressed that the agreement is of great importance to both countries.
– The fact that we could sign this intergovernmental agreement I think it is of great importance and that we will solve that we will solve many things between the two countries. I am looking forward to this bilateral meeting and the bilateral agreement and I think we have a lot to do together – said Starmer.
As reported, the agreement had been negotiated for months between teams from both countries.
There was a statement from the British government that the two leaders discussed « about S. Macedonia’s recent joining a joint migration working group, an initiative that aims to strengthen regional co -operation in preventing irregular migration through the Balkans and disrupting the criminal networks. »

Mickoski: Agreement will be the basis for a strong investment cycle

After returning to Skopje, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski held a joint press conference with British Ambassador Matthew Lawson on the occasion of the consent for a strategic partnership agreement with the UK. As Prime Minister Mickoski pointed out, with the strategic partnership document, the two governments send a strong message that the interests of the citizens are the most important, and that politics is a powerful instrument when creating values, not divisions. He specified that the deal would be the basis for a strong investment cycle.
– The deal will have a total framework of five billion pounds, ie six billion euros, with some of the money being used for infrastructure investments, modern cargo and fast passenger railway from Tabanovce to Gevgelija, health investment and new hospitals, completing the project at the Clinical Hospital, together with a new medical hospital, Kicevo together with the Health Center, reconstruction of the Tetovo Clinical Hospital – said Prime Minister Mickoski.
At the same time, he pointed out that the partnership that is formalized in this way will « contribute to the modernization of our armed forces and deeper integration into NATO standards ».
« It will allow us to increase the security of the borders and to oppose trafficking in human beings and smuggling, » Mickoski said.
For his part, British Ambassador Matthew Lawson estimated that the agreement was a top moment in the bilateral link between the two countries, built on common values, common membership NATO and a very rich trade connection.
« We are big investors and the British government has decided to upgrade it through an agreement between the two governments, which focuses on trade and investment to create more growth and hundreds of millions of pounds of which will benefit citizens of our country, » Lawson said.
At the same time, the ambassador most energetically denied the writing of some Macedonian media that the agreement had committed to accepting migrants, explaining that it was only about collaborating with police forces and better dealing with criminal groups.

Deputy Prime Minister Nikoloski: Agreement with the UK will completely transform us as a state

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski gave a more precise interpretation of the importance and content of the agreement signed by the governments of Macedonia and the UK in appearing on Sitel TV. According to Nikoloski, this agreement will mean a lot to both politics and the economy and will completely transform us as a state. Practically, it is two agreements, the first is for a strategic partnership, which determines the political outlines of co -operation, and the second is the Government Agreement with the Government, which determines the fields of economic cooperation.
Nikoloski pointed out that the UK has no such agreement with anyone else in the entire Southeast and Eastern Europe and announced that the Government Agreement with the Government will be signed in London this week and then a strategic partnership agreement. He noted that there is no provision in the agreements for opening camps for asylum seekers in the country and specifies that with the UK we will have the same agreement as with Frontex.
– One agreement is for a strategic partnership, which regulates the contours for political co -operation and has global cooperation, cooperation in the field of defense and security, cooperation in the field of migration, in the area of ​​judicial reform, the fight against organized crime and corruption, economic cooperation and development, youth and education. The latter is unique and is the largest agreement that the UK has achieved in financial terms with any country in Europe. It is a government agreement with the Government, which accurately determines the sectors of co -operation – infrastructure, health, transport, technology, energy and puts a five -billion pound limit for Macedonia or six billion euros available – Nikoloski explained.
He explained that the five -billion pound framework is in an unlimited period and does not mean that we will all use them, but will be appropriate to the needs we currently have.
– Currently we have prepared projects for about two billion pounds or from 2.2 to 2.3 billion euros. The first project is for the fast rail from Tabanovce to Gevgelija. The existing route will be used, but a completely new two -track line will be built. After one, passenger trains will be transit at speeds over 160 kilometers, and the second will be a cargo coloset, which will only move cargo drives at 110 to 120 kilometers per hour-Nikoloski said, adding that it will cost from 1.7 to 1.9 billion euros.
In addition, in the area of ​​healthcare, as he said, there is already agreement for the construction of the Clinical Hospital in Stip, the construction of a new Faculty of Medicine and dormitory with at least 200 beds for the Faculty of Medicine. The fourth project is a complete reconstruction of the Tetovo Clinical Hospital, and the fifth construction of a new hospital in Kicevo. In addition to these projects already established, other areas in the country are also considered, which would be covered in the second phase, with a modern clinical center in Skopje as a priority.
Nikoloski added that the UK is also available with grants for technical support. He expects the first funds to arrive by the end of the summer and in early October to start the field. RS

The British Embassy in Macedonia with a statement

Greetings to Macedonia’s new strategic partnership with Britain

Prime Minister Kir Starmer met with Northern Macedonia Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski at the European Political Community Summit.
The prime minister began welcoming the new strategic partnership between the two countries, further strengthening relations between Britain and Northern Macedonia.
The partnership will emphasize the growing friendship between the two countries and signal the intention to co -operate the common challenges, including economic growth, trade, defense and security, the prime minister added.
Leaders also discussed the recent Northern Macedonia agreement to join the joint migration working group, further strengthening regional co -operation to prevent irregular migrants transiting the Balkans and preventing criminal gangs that help them.
Expecting the Western Balkans Summit in October, leaders welcomed the strengthening of friendships between the UK and the region.
Leaders are looking forward to talking again soon.

Five years after Brexit, the UK is seeking a new agreement with the EU

London restores relations with European partners?

British Prime Minister Cyrus Starmer will welcome EU leaders today in London as part of efforts to restore relations with the Union, with both sides trying to make progress in certain areas. According to his cabinet, Starmer will negotiate an agreement to strengthen his country’s partnership with the European Union after Brexit and facilitate trade with some food products.
As it is known, Britain left the EU in 2020, but Starmer is trying to strengthen ties with the country’s largest trading partner after his central-left Labor Party won last year’s national elections.
The summit will result in an agreement, his cabinet said, though it did not give much details, except that the deal would improve the position of British manufacturers, who are currently facing products or unable to export and facilitate the lives of families facing higher accounts and rows.
– This week the prime minister will reach another agreement that will be in the national interest of this country. It will be good for growth, good for jobs, good for accounts and good for our borders – the Starmer Cabinet said.
Polls show that Brexit is becoming increasingly popular among British voters, as the economy is in poor condition in recent years, and international trade is particularly weak. RS