News
10/14/2022 09:36
Today the Secretariat for European Affairs, through the project "Nordic Support for the Progress of North Macedonia", which is implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services UNOPS, organized the first of three planned panel discussions under the slogan: "On the European path: New reforms, new opportunities!".
- As the main negotiator with the EU and coordinator for Cluster 1, "Fundamental values", I will say that North Macedonia still stands best in the region in this cluster, which is the most important for the dynamics of the negotiations. Behind us are Montenegro with a score of 2.9 and Serbia with a score of 2.6, noted Deputy Prime Minister Maricik at the beginning of his speech.
- We have made progress, but we also have known challenges. "Good level of preparedness" is the assessment of the overall preparedness of the country for 2022, which is a signal that we have stable continuity in the overall preparedness of the country, which should give us an incentive to maintain it, i.e. give it a new dynamic, the Deputy Prime Minister and chief negotiator with the EU pointed out.
Maricik also highlighted the grades and noted progress in several areas, in key areas such as the judiciary, where the trend of independent operation of the Judicial Council and the Council of Public Prosecutors is expected to be maintained, although the reduced selection of judges and public prosecutors is again pointed out. In terms of democratic institutions, the Report notes the country's "commitment to deliver results" and apparent efforts to strengthen democracy and the rule of law.
The main negotiator with the European Union, Maricik, says that this year's Report also shows progress in electoral reforms, but the European Commission is stricter this year towards the Parliament, which is the subject of sharp criticism due to the active blockade by the opposition and the delay in passing laws important for the reform process. In the continuation of the panel discussion, he pointed to the progress achieved in other areas, such as statistics, foreign relations, public procurement, justice, freedom and security, in which the upward pace of reforms and progress should be continued.
- We unequivocally confirm our strategic commitment to the Union, in the new geopolitical context we are facing. As a proven partner of the Union, I would not miss the opportunity and this time to make an appeal that we expect the country and the region to be included in the EU energy and food supply mechanisms, taking into account the current challenges we are all facing, Maricik said, adding that everyone should responsibly dedicate themselves to overcoming the noted weaknesses, to continue with the reforms, and that every institution should be at the level of its task, especially the legislature.
Opening speeches at the event were given by the President of the State, Pendarovski, the President of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, Kovacevski, and the ambassadors of the Czech Republic and the Kingdom of Sweden, H.E. Ludwa and H.E. Larsson Jain. Panellists of the first panel discussion were the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European affairs and chief negotiator with the EU, coordinator of Cluster 1, "Fundamental values", Bojan Maricik, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the State Delegation for negotiations with the EU, coordinator of the Cluster 6, "External Relations", Minister Bujar Osmani, Filip Nikoloski, Deputy Minister of Finance, as well as representatives of the civil sector, Ana Krstinovska, President of "Estima" and Andreja Stojkovski, Executive Director of "Prespa Institute". The panel discussion was moderated by Prof. Dr. Nenad Markovic. In the following weeks, two more events will follow for the rest of the clusters.