AUSTRIA, December 8 - On 09 December 2022, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg welcomed his counterpart from North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, for a working meeting in Vienna. The two foreign ministers exchanged views on the EU expansion process, the role of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, and migration issues. 

From the outset, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg assured his counterpart that Austria would actively continue to support North Macedonia on its way to full EU membership. One important step in this regard was the approval of the negotiating frameworks for Albania and Northern Macedonia by the Council of the European Union in July 2022. In this context, Foreign Minister Schallenberg spoke in favour of a gradual EU accession process that would result in full membership for the candidate countries. 

A gradual EU accession model would allow the EU candidate countries in the Western Balkans to be treated, at least informally, like full members. This would issue an important signal that could make a major difference, and provide new impetus for the EU accession process,

Foreign Minister Schallenberg said, emphasising the merits of the Austrian proposal. 

In addition to discussions on the status of EU enlargement, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg also exchanged views with his counterpart on the role of the OSCE in view of the Russian war of aggression. The recent meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in the Polish city of Łódź had shown tremendous unity among a majority of participating states regarding support for Ukraine. The resumption of the organisation’s activities in the country will bring about a series of positive impacts, for example, in the field of de-mining and environmental rehabilitation, he said. At the same time, the numerous challenges that the Russian aggression posed for the future functioning of the OSCE had become apparent. 

With regard to the increasing migration flows to Europe, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg emphasised Austria’s close cooperation with North Macedonia in the field of migration management. Efficient protection of the EU’s external borders required that the Western Balkan states align their visa policies with those of the EU member states.