News
9/21/2022 08:19
The Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs, Bojan Maricik, this afternoon in Brussels, held a working meeting with the Acting Director for the Western Balkans in the General Directorate for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Michela Matuella and her team, which follows our screening meetings and the progress of North Macedonia.
The Vice Prime Minister for European Affairs and Chief Negotiator with the Union, Maricik, expressed satisfaction with the first screening meetings, saying that there is a desire and commitment by the administration and institutions to successfully complete the negotiation process with the Union.
The opening of the negotiations is a success for all. We are now at a stage where the whole society needs to commit to the screening process, which will undoubtedly accelerate the reforms. Reforms in the long term will mean benefits for the citizens. We are motivated and this is a good sign that we will complete the screening as planned with the European Commission, Maricik said at the meeting.
The Acting Director for the Western Balkans in the General Directorate for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Michela Matuella, indicated at the meeting that the start of the negotiations give a new direction in the development of North Macedonia and that now it is important that everyone is fully committed to this process that will accelerate reforms and transform the country for the better.
Matuella added that the enthusiasm of the Macedonian teams at the screening meetings was obvious and clear, and expressed the belief that this will continue to be the case during the bilateral screening meetings, stressing that we will work together to use all the recommendations and advice from the European Commission properly, in the direction of faster and easier fulfilment of our tasks for membership in the Union.
At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Maricik briefed the representatives of the European Commission on the negotiation structure, noting that the final consultations are being held with all social stakeholders and that the best experts in their field are being sought to complete the negotiation teams before the start of the bilateral screenings.
Tomorrow the screening meeting for chapter 24 – Justice, freedom and security , which will last for two days continues, and next week the meetings with the very important chapter 23 – Justice and