President of the Council of Europe (CE) Charles Michel welcomed the start of the first intergovernmental conference for the EU accession processes for North Macedonia and Albania. “I extend my greetings to all people in both countries. We witnessed intense debate over this process, especially in North Macedonia, but the Parliament there managed to make the crucial step forward towards the start of these processes. We belong together in Europe, securing a better future for our children,” Michel said. EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell also extended his greetings. “North Macedonia needs no conclusions from the EU over its identity, because the country will not lose it in the negotiation process. We need North Macedonia in the EU, to enrich our cultural identity with its rich history and culture. Now it’s time for all of us to work together and finish this last stage of the EU accession process,” Borrell said. Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said in his greetings that Skopje deserved the first intergovernmental conference after all the bold decisions it made over the past period, adding that North Macedonia has so far fulfilled all conditions to start the EU accession talks and that the European Commission will provide all support necessary to Skopje for completing the screening process successfully.