Vice-voorzitter Frattini bezoekt vroegere Joegoslavische republiek Macedonië (en)

On Wednesday, 20 February, Vice-President of the European Commission Franco Frattini , accompanied by the Minister of Interior of Slovenia Dragutin Mate, will visit the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to launch the visa liberalisation dialogue with the country. During his stay, Vice-President Frattini will meet with the President of the country Branko Crvenkovski, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Deputy Prime Minister Gabriela Konevska-Trajkovska, as well as with the ministers of foreign affairs - Antonio Milososki, Interior - Gordana Jankulovska and justice - Mihajlo Manevski.

"I come personally to Skopje -together with Minister D. Mate, from the Slovenian Presidency- to bring to the Macedonian citizens a strong, positive political message from the European Union, by officially opening the dialogue on visa liberalisation between the EU and their country. This process aims at achieving the common and shared goal which is the free movement of citizens. Moreover this dialogue will foster the promotion of people mobility between the EU and the Western Balkan countries as a key element towards closer cooperation with the countries in the region," Vice President Frattini said.

The visa free dialogue between the European Union and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will be formally opened on Wednesday at 13:25 in the government building.

At 14:00 on Wednesday, Vice-President Frattini, Minister Mate, Prime Minister Gruevski and Foreign Minister Milososki will inaugurate the National visa centre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This event will be followed by a press conference that will start at 14:20. The journalists are kindly invited to this event which will take place at the conference room on the 1st floor of the MFA building.

Vice-President Frattini will also visit the Academy for Judges and Prosecutors. At 17:15 there will be short statements for the media together with Minister of Justice Manevski.

On Thursday, 21 February, Vice-President Frattini and Minister Mate will visit the Ministry of Interior, in particular the Forensic Laboratory, a project funded by the EU, and the secure document production centre in the Ministry of Interior. The visit will be followed with short statements for the media at 09:00 in presence of Minister of Interior Jankulovska.

To find out more about Vice President Frattini's work please visit his website:

http://www.ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/frattini/index_en.htm