Bekteshi and Jorna signed agreement: North Macedonia entered the Single Market Program of the European Union

The Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi and the Director General of the Directorate for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises of the European Union Kesrtin Jorna, today signed the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of North Macedonia on the participation of our country in the Program for the Single Market of The European Union. 

The Single Market Program offers a comprehensive set of services to strengthen and support the administration and operation of the Single Market. This program is a modern, clear and adaptable program that combines a wide range of activities.

"The Single Market Program offers excellent opportunity to make significant contribution to strengthening competitiveness, employment and growth. This program is tailored as a key tool to address current, unforeseen issues such as; the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent crises we have faced and laid the foundation for Europe's sustainable recovery. The general objectives include improving the functionality of the internal market, protecting people, consumers and enterprises, by increasing their competitiveness at the same time," Minister Bekteshi said at the signing of the agreement. 

This program, as the Minister emphasized, includes support from the European Union in increasing the efficiency of the internal market, among other things, in light of the digital transformation, strengthening the competitiveness as well as the sustainability of SMEs and achieving added value at the level of the Union, the promotion of consumer interests and ensuring a high standard of product safety and consumer protection. 

"The single market program with the European Union obliges us to work more closely together towards our common goal. Our partnership is especially relevant in these challenging times and through the process of negotiating this agreement, our institutions confirm the atmosphere of cooperation and partnership. I would like to express my gratitude to the Commission for granting the accession negotiator status to North Macedonia, which enabled the applicants from North Macedonia to be eligible to apply to the calls for proposals of the Program before the signing of this Agreement. And we are also grateful to the European Commission for taking the commitment to partially facilitate our financial contribution to this program, through the Instrument for Pre-Accession - IPA" said Minister Bekteshi and assured that as the competent Minister, the Ministry of Economy will do everything to ensure the successful implementation of this program.