Macedonia and Serbia have met all the necessary criteria to get a date for accession negotiations at the EU summit in June. The countries are remaining committed to the process of EU integration, prime ministers Nikola Gruevski and Ivica Dacic told a press conference in Belgrade following Monday's first joint session of the countries' governments.

"We want to collaborate on the road to the EU. We believe that both Macedonia and Serbia have met all the criteria for opening EU membership talks," Serbia's PM Dacic stated.

The Macedonian Premier Gruevski stressed that the two countries were facing conditions that did not have to be met by other countries urging that Macedonia and Serbia "are neither discouraged nor unmotivated."

"On the contrary, we are fully committed to the process of reconciliation and closing of all the open issues from the past in the region by abiding by the principles of international law and good neighbourliness. In this context, the successful regional cooperation manifested through activities in regaional organisations and initiatives is another confirmation for the Europeanization of Macedonia and Serbia and the development of our region" concluded Gruevski.

Both premiers concurred that political cooperation paved the way toward strengthening business collaboration, first and foremost in relation to joint promotion on third markets, in the field of infrastructure, education and agriculture".

We have defined concrete proposals and initiatives that are in the interests of the citizens of Macedonia and Serbia," Gruevski said.

Serbia's government team praised Macedonia's economy, the reforms implemented in the country commending the government led by Gruevski for successfully managing the consequences of the global economic crisis.

"A lot can be learnt from Macedonia's economy," PM Dacic stated.

The two premiers voiced satisfaction with the joint governmental session, which was held "in a constructive and cordial atmosphere."

"With this we are demonstrating that the countries are devoted to advancing bilateral relations at all levels. We are prepared and would be very pleased if the initiatives for summing up our common interests are accepted," Dacic noted.

Today's session is an additional proof of the quality of Macedonia-Serbia relations and cooperation, according to Gruevski.

With respect to business collaboration, PMs Gruevski and Dacic urged more efforts to be made in the sphere of infrastructure, including the completion of Corridor X, joint promotion before IPA funds for major infrastructural projects and joint tourism projects. Relations in the field of energy, education, healthcare, interior affairs also need to be strengthened, according to them.

"We need to make efforts to settle all the other vital issues like other friendly countries do," Serbia's PM said.

Considering the only outstanding bilateral issue - the dispute between the Macedonian and Serbian orthodox church - Premier Dacic said that the countries must contribute to creating an environment favourable for the two churches to solve it.

"I would like the two orthodox churches to start closing the only open issue between the countries after which the mutual relations will serve as an example in the entire region," Gruevski stated referring to the church dispute.

PM Gruevski at the session was accompanied by Vice Premier for Economic Affairs Vladimir Pesevski, Vice Premier and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, Minister of Interior Gordana Jankuloska, Health Minister Nikola Todorov, Minister of Labor and Social Policy Dime Spasov, Minister of Information Society Ivo Ivanovski, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Supply Ljupco Dimovski, and Deputy-Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Stevo Temelkovski.

Several bilateral talks took place prior to the session. Serbia's PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic and Minister Jankuloska signed a protocol of cooperation during the coming summer season, while Minister Todorov and his Serbian counterpart Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic signed a cooperation memorandum in the field of health and medical sciences.

Today's session of the Macedonian and Serbian governments came as a result of an agreement reached by the premiers at a joint meeting in January in Skopje.

Macedonia has put forward similar initiatives for joint government sessions to the authorities in Bulgaria, Albania and Kosovo.

It is envisaged the next joint session between the governments of Macedonia and Serbia to be held in 2014 in Skopje.

On Monday, PM Gruevski also met with Serbia's President Tomislav Nikolic and with representatives of the Macedonian community in Serbia.