NEWS OF THE DAY: Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs for DW: The conclusion is harmful to the EU enlargement process
The Czech Republic is deeply disappointed that the Negotiating Framework for North Macedonia was not approved, with which the EU accession negotiations were to formally start. The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, explains for Deutsche Welle that they do not have the intention of allowing the conclusions to be adopted in the part on “falsely interpreting history” to which Bulgaria insisted on, and which the Germany Presidency put forward. In addition, they say that other EU member states have also expressed concern over the conclusions, writes Deutsche Welle.
“The Czech Republic has always been a constant supporter of the enlargement policy in the last 16 years. That has not changed with this decision. However, after careful review, we could not give a consent to the draft put forward for adoption”, they say in Prague.
STATEMENT OF THE DAY: Alt: Following Bulgaria’s veto, the objections of the Czech Republic and Slovakia send a devastating signal in the direction of the Western Balkans
“The fact that the Czech Republic and Slovakia are assuring they are friends of the enlargement can hardly be taken seriously with this background. This way the accession process is becoming a pure farce, which is also increasing the division in the EU as well. Following Bulgaria’s veto, the objections of the Czech Republic and Slovakia are sending a devastating signal in the direction of the Western Balkans. The countries that are laughing at all of this are China and Russia, whose chances of increasing their influence in the region have probably never been greater”, stated MP of the opposition Liberal party (FDP) and member of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs of the German Bundestag, Renata Alt.
CIVIL ACTIVITIES
According to the Ministry, the concept is to make a transformation of the schools, to create a school that will teach the youth to learn, will enable a replacement of the old approach of factographic learning and will encourage the young people to think critically, to solve problems by making decisions based on analyses and facts.
“The concept will mean a new education model through which every child will reach its full potential. In that education model there will be no reducing of scientific disciplines. On the contrary, all subjects that have existed until now will further be studied, with the idea being part of the scientific disciplines to be integrated further with each other.
The new primary education will give students a complete picture on a certain event or topic, which is achieved with an interdisciplinary and integrated approach, that is, connecting information from several subjects. Such an approach enables students to more easily connect the curricula to the reality and to see the sense of what is being learned”, is said from the Ministry.
Electoral reforms – old problems with new challenges
FLASH NEWS
Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov this morning participated in the meeting with EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, where with his counterparts from the region exchanged information on the situation and preparedness for procurement of the vaccines against Covid-19, as well as on the plans for realization of the vaccination of the priority groups.
There are no deadlines until when the citizens can spend the financial assistance provided through the fourth set of government measures that is supposed to be paid on their accounts, stated Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi.
The State Commission for Prevention of Corruption “with indignation and entirety” rejects, as is indicated, the expressed accusations and allegations made by former President of the Republic of North Macedonia Gjorgje Ivanov towards the President of the Commission, Biljana Ivanovska.
The inspections in Skopje yesterday closed four facilities – three hospitality facilities working past 9.00 pm, with an intervention also being made in a yoga studio, where the punishment is not for exceeding the working hours, but for grouping of more people in one place.
The inspection services performing supervision and inspection over the compliance to the protocols passed by the government, will intensify their controls on the ground in order to contribute to responsible celebration of the upcoming holidays, stated the President of the Inspection Council, Magdalena Filipovska-Graskoska. At a regular press conference on the work of the inspectors, she announced that the seven inspection services, in the period December 7 – 16, have conducted 6,944 supervisions and controls.
There will be no new taxes and the rates that are currently in force remain. As to the property tax and the changes that have been proposed and have entered parliamentary procedure, the goals is for the real estate in the Republic of North Macedonia to be activated, which is not activated at the moment.
translation: N. Cvetkovska
