A full membership status in European Union (EU) is a goal of the Republic of Macedonia. This desire for incorporation within the EU comes out of the political, economic and cultural cooperation with the EU, as well as from the Macedonian cultural and civilization relation to the entire European region. Coming to force of the Agreement for Cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the EU as of January 1, 1998, was an initial phase of the relationship between the two parties. However, by signing the Agreement for Association and Stabilization with the EU on April 9, 2001 in Luxemburg, Republic of Macedonia defined its own types of economic and social structures toward which it