NEWS OF THE DAY: Pendarovski-Varhelyi: EC Report gives a detailed outline of the situation in the country and the degree of implementation of reforms

President Stevo Pendarovski today met with EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Policy, Oliver Varhelyi. Commissioner Varhelyi presented President Pendarovski with the European Commission 2020 Report on North Macedonia.

Views on the key findings published in the report were exchanged at the meeting.

Thanking Commissioner Varhelyi for his engagement and his strong support in regards to the prospect for EU enlargement with the Western Balkans, President Pendarovski said that the Report gives a detailed outline of the situation in the country and the degree of implementation of reforms. According to President Pendarovski, the Report of the Commission gives encouragement for further intensifying of the reform agenda in all areas indicated in the document and is a step towards the formal start of the accession negotiations during Germany’s Presidency of the EU, by the end of the year.

President Pendarovski welcomed the presented Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, which has the goal of promoting long-term economic recovery of the region, which is additionally hindered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is in the function of accelerating the EU integration. The presented plan, according to President Pendarovski, confirms that the future of the entire region is in the European Union, and that Brussels is clearly demonstrating that the region is its geostrategic priority.

STATEMENT OF THE DAY

EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi’s visit to Skopje comes immediately after yesterday’s publication of the two reports of the European Commission, one as an assessment on North Macedonia, and the other is the economic investment plan for development of the Western Balkan countries. At the joint press conference with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, Varhelyi said that the economic plan is regional and that it should assist the countries equally, as well as the issue of the Roma community and their potential for contributing to the economy.

CIVIL ACTIVITIES

Ahead of tomorrow’s football match between North Macedonia and Kosovo, CIVIL urges all fan groups to refrain from spreading hate speech or violence that fan groups have been continuously promoting for years.

CIVIL advocates for a society ruled by freedom, equality and justice, a society in which citizens feel safe and have confidence in the institutions, where security, freedom of movement and freedom of expression are guaranteed by law and the efficient functioning of the system.

Green CIVIL in Veles and Kavadarci spoke with the citizens on the topic social justice, but also about antinationalism.

FLASH NEWS

The country is on a good track and should continue with the implementation of the already adopted laws and existing mechanisms. I, as Prime Minister, together with the ministers from the analyses of the findings of the Report of the European Commission, will use the indications of the EC for checking our action plans and strategies from the first cluster of the negotiation chapter dedicated to the fundamental values, said today Prime Minister Zoran Zaev at the joint press conference with EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, who is paying a visit to North Macedonia.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs informs that all measures have been taken for a flawless organization and football match play-off of the semi-finals of the National League between the football teams of North Macedonia and Kosovo on October 8 (tomorrow) at the National Arena “Todor Proeski” in Skopje.

This afternoon in front of the government building of the Republic of North Macedonia, musicians, nightclub owners, hospitality workers from restaurants for family celebrations started a protest against the restrictive measures that the government adopted in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which refer to hospitality facilities.

Secondary students from Tetovo and Kumanovo protested in favour of returning to school.

The Association of citizens “Theatre Workshop Prilep”, this year on October 10, for the tenth time in a row, will hold the literature manifestation “Poetry Slam Macedonia 2020”, which used to be regularly held in the City Library “Borka Taleski” in Prilep, and which this time was held on the Summer Scene “Marko Cepenkov”.

D. Muratov

Translation: N. Cvetkovska