Slovenian Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar on Thursday voiced strong support for North Macedonia’s efforts to join the European Union and called for deeper police cooperation between the two countries.
Poklukar met his Macedonian counterpart Panče Toškovski in Ohrid, where the two discussed joint efforts in tackling organised crime, terrorism and migration, as well as aligning the region with EU security standards.
“We are already working together within NATO in various peace-support operations, and I believe we will also work together in the European Union tomorrow,” Poklukar told reporters after the meeting.
He said Slovenia’s backing for North Macedonia’s EU accession “remains strong and enduring”.
The ministers described bilateral cooperation in internal affairs as “at a high level”, citing close coordination with EU agencies such as Europol and Frontex.
Poklukar also welcomed Skopje’s initiative to boost regional cooperation on police training and confirmed Slovenia would join a regional association of training centres and police academies. “International police cooperation is the foundation of a successful fight against crime and managing migration,” he said.