Hr. formand, kære kolleger, indgåelsen af disse samarbejdsaftaler mellem Den Europæiske Union og Den Tidligere Jugoslaviske Republik Makedonien er sammen med finansprotokollen og aftalen på transportområdet af stor politisk betydning, fordi vi hermed yder et afgørende bidrag til denne Balkanstats økonomiske udvikling, omstrukturering af dens industri, en forøgelse af samhandelen og fremme af mere stabile og ligevægtige relationer med nabolandene.
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the concluding of a cooperation agreement between the European Union and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, together with the finance protocol and the agreement on transport, is indeed of great political value since it will make a vital contribution to the economic development of this small Balkan state, to the restructuring of its industry, the rekindling of its commercial dealings, and the promotion of more stable and balanced relations with neighbouring countries.