The European Commission regards Macedonia as a serious partner and a future EU member state as evidenced by the transferred powers for running European money, said Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Vasko Naumovski on Tuesday.

The European Commission decided to let Macedonia run independently the money of the third component of the IPA (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance) funds intended for regional development on Friday.

This component totals 110 million euros, 40 million euros of which are for the 2007-2009 period and the rest is for 2010 and 2011. Two projects - completing the construction of Corridor X and building a waste treatment station in Prilep - will be realized in the first stage.