NEWS OF THE DAY
Bulgaria does not give in for North Macedonia, EU does not want splitting from Albania
EU Ministers of European Affairs debated on the adoption of the negotiating framework for North Macedonia and Albania, according to diplomatic sources from the EU, Bulgaria refused to give in, reports MIA correspondent from Brussels.
The debate on the enlargement this morning at the ministerial meeting in Luxemburg had been quite intense, say diplomats, especially in regards to North Macedonia and the Bulgarian blockade. According to those that had been present, Germany had been pressing the most, showing strong commitment for the start of the negotiations with North Macedonia.
However, the Bulgaria side had further continued refusing to give in, despite the warnings of EU member states that with this blockade the “EU is shooting itself in the foot”.
STATEMENT OF THE DAY
German Minister for Europe Michael Roth today during the EU General Affairs Council posted on Twitter that the European Union should fulfil its obligations towards North Macedonia and Albania without delay.
Please. Let bilateral issues be handled bilaterally, without blocking the entire moving forward. Let’s think strategically and realise: need to fulfill our obligations towards #Albania& #NorthMacedonia NOW + have no interest in leaving strategic vacuum there. Thank you.
Please. Let bilateral issues be handled bilaterally, without blocking the entire 🇪🇺 moving forward. Let’s think strategically and realise: need to fulfill our obligations towards #Albania🇦🇱& #NorthMacedonia 🇲🇰 NOW + have no interest in leaving strategic vacuum there. Thank you.
— Michael Roth – official 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇮🇱🇬🇪 (@MiRo_SPD) June 22, 2021
— Michael Roth MdB (@MiRo_SPD) June 22, 2021
CIVIL LIVE
In today’s edition of CIVIL live, information was shared regarding the visit of CIVIL’s team to Veles, where together with the local government, civil society organizations and local media, European values were discussed, as well as multiculturalism, equality, non-discrimination…
The call for election observers for the local elections, as well as monitoring of fake news, hate speech and disinformation is ongoing.
CIVIL ACTIVITIES
CIVIL is organizing a public event on the topic “Electoral reforms ahead of the local elections: achievements and challenges”, tomorrow, June 23, 2021, starting at 1.00 pm at Park Residence Hotel (behind the city football stadium) in Skopje. The event is planned to last 70 minutes.
The panel discussion will be attended by Minister of Justice Bojan Maricic, Halil Snopce, MP and representative of the Alliance for Albanians, Vice President of the State Election Commission Ditmire Shehu, Boris Kondarko, member of the SEC, Arber Ademi from DUI and Xhabir Deralla, representative of CIVIL.
European values and multiculturalism at the local level, CIVIL workshop in Veles
CIVIL today organized a workshop in Veles on the topic “Participation in creating policies, strengthening public awareness and promotion of European values, multiculturalism and non-discrimination at the local level.
FLASH NEWS
POLITICS Prime Minister Zoran Zaev today had a working breakfast organized by the Ambassadors of the Visegrad Group (V4) countries, where he expressed gratitude for their strong support for EU enlargement with the Western Balkan countries.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden and current OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde, who is paying a visit to North Macedonia, today met with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani.
North Macedonia and Albania have met all criteria for opening accession talks, whereas Kosovo deserves visa liberalization
EU Ministers of European Affairs debated on the adoption of the negotiating framework for North Macedonia and Albania, Bulgaria refused to give in.
Relations between Portugal and North Macedonia are friendly with the possibility for their further improvement, as well as for development of the bilateral political dialogue at the highest level, was concluded at today’s meeting of President Pendarovski and Ambassador of Portugal to our country, Maria Pina.
COVID-19 By the end of the summer, we could reach a percentage of immunized persons with which we could say is collective immunity.
Minister of Health Venko Filipce today received two donations, one in the amount of 2.313.000 denars for medical equipment from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the other in the amount of 100 thousand dollars for the fight against Covis-19 from the Red Cross Society of China.
ECONOMY The business sector will participate in creating the curricula for students.
LGBTI The city councillors in the capital of Bavaria planned to illuminate the stadium in rainbow colors for the Germany-Hungary match at Euro 2020 on Wednesday in Munich. This is a symbolic protest against the recent adoption of the law banning promotion of homosexuality in Hungary.
UEFA rejected the request of the city authorities of Munich to light up the Allianz Arena in rainbow colors during the Germany – Hungary match at Euro 2020. The main managing body of the European football rejected the request of the national team due to “political context”.
INTEGRATION Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani met with the President of the Commission for Foreign Policy of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, Mimi Kodeli, accompanied by a group of MPs, who are paying a working visit to the Republic of North Macedonia.
Sweden strongly supports the European integration of North Macedonia and the reform agenda of our country.
Irena Krdzic
Translation: N. Cvetkovska
