PARTICIPATION IN THE 19TH “SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNAL MARKET AND COMPETITION” WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE STABILIZATION AND ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION, IN BRUSSELS, KINGDOM OF BELGIUM

The delegation of the Council, led by the President of the Council, Aleksandar Naumoski and the coordinator of the professional service, Zarko Kamcev, actively participated in the 19th “Subcommittee on Internal Market and Competition” which was held on November 12th 2024 at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium, and on the basis of the Stabilization and Association Agreement of the Republic of Macedonia with the European Union, under the co-chairmanship of the Ministry of Economy of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and representatives of the European Commission in Brussels (from the Commissariats for Justice, Finance, and Enlargement and Good Neighborly Cooperation).

 

The Macedonian delegation, consisting of 15 involved state institutions, was led by Hakim Suma, State Counselor from the Ministry of Economy, and accompanied by Ersin Baki, First Secretary at the Mission of the Republic of Macedonia to the European Union in Brussels.

 

Within the discussion of sub-topic 6. “Company Law”, the Council delegation promoted the strategic goal, through expert analyses, recommendations, consultations and independent public oversight of auditing, working towards its promotion, encouragement and adherence to high professional standards in the auditing profession, in order to increase trust and transparency in the data and information expressed in the financial reports of business entities, and thus minimize potential risks, thereby influencing the improvement of the overall business climate in the Republic of North Macedonia.

 

 

Representatives of the Financial Services Commission (DG FISMA) highlighted the necessity, in the new Audit Law, in addition to the Directive (2014/56/EU) and Regulation (537/2014) EU on Audit, to implement the new EU Directive 2022/2464 on corporate sustainability reporting. The representative of the Ministry of Finance of the Macedonian government agreed with the stated obligation.

 

On the sidelines of the Subcommittee, the Councils delegation had separate meetings with representatives of the Justice, Finance and Enlargement and Good Neighborly Cooperation Commissariats, and with a request for their logistical support for the future membership – with observer status, of the Council in the “Committee of European Audit Oversight Bodies” in Brussels (“CEAOB”).