North Macedonia becomes Union for the Mediterranean member state

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA)- The foreign affairs ministers from 42 member states unanimously endorsed the accession of North Macedonia to the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) on Thursday.

According to the organization, the republic has officially become a member state.

Bujar Osmani, foreign affairs minister of North Macedonia, celebrated the news, tweeting that today was “a day to be remembered.”

On Thursday, the UfM gathered foreign affairs ministers from dozens of nations to discuss boosting regional integration and cooperation on some of the area’s greatest challenges.

The organization was founded in 2008 to reinforce regional partnerships and promote stability.

Its members include all 27 EU member states and 16 southern and Mediterranean countries, including Syria, whose membership has been suspended.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who is co-chairing the regional forum, said in opening remarks that the organization’s activities should have more of a “real impact.”