18/07/2018 (Agence Europe) – European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Home Affairs Minister Oliver Spasovski initialled a status agreement on Wednesday 18 July that will allow European Border Guard Agency teams to be deployed in FYROM, they announced. When it comes into force, agreement will allow the Agency to carry out joint operations with FYROM, particularly in the event of sudden migratory challenges. The commissioner said this was “an important operational step forward in our cooperation on the ground”. The draft status agreement is the second following conclusion of an agreement with Albania in February 2018. A draft status agreement with Montenegro was agreed at technical level in April 2018, and negotiations are ongoing with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. European Parliament consent is required on these agreements. (SP)