The negotiations between Macedonia and the EU on the visa facilitation and readmission agreements ended in Brussels yesterday. The conclusion of the negotiations was followed by formal initialling of the agreements, the EU mission in Skopje reports.

"With the compromise that we reached on the readmission agreement, Macedonia's negotiating team secured facilitation of the visa regime for approximately 20 categories of citizens, including students, pensioners, children under the age of six, employees in liberal professions, businessmen, and tourists. Macedonia also secured facilitation for multiple entry visas," Agnesa Rusi, head of the Macedonian negotiating team for liberalization of the visa regime, told MIA.

The members of the Macedonian negotiating team assessed these agreements as a step towards full liberalization of the visa regime, which will be discussed when the negotiations for Macedonia's accession to the European Union start.