The European Commission on Monday published progress reports on North Macedonia and Albania in addressing rule of law, reiterating its earlier recommendation that both countries deserved to open accession negotiations.
Grlic Radman met with North Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov to discuss EU enlargement and North Macedonia's journey towards EU membership. The visit coincided with the publication of the progress report.
"It is precisely the reason for my visit to Skopje today, to make it clear that Croatia strongly supports the positive decision on opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia," Grlic Radman told reporters after the meeting.
He said he saw the decision on opening talks with North Macedonia and Albania as a prelude to the EU-Western Balkans summit in Zagreb in May, which he described as "a key objective of the Croatian presidency of the Council of the EU."
"We want this summit to be a milestone in the relationship between the EU and Western Balkan countries and to clearly show the way to all the countries in Southeast Europe over the next 10 years," Grlic Radman said.
He recalled that Croatia had managed, with the support of its European partners, to return the enlargement theme among the EU's priorities.
"Continuing the enlargement policy based on the consistent fulfillment of criteria is of key importance for the security and stability of entire Southeast Europe," Grlic Radman said.
He expressed hope that North Macedonia would become a full member of NATO as soon as possible and that Skopje and Zagreb would continue building their partnership within that framework.