Ohrid, 15 July 2024 (MIA) - Half of the EUR 500 million that the country agreed on with Hungary will be for the municipalities, while the other half will be for businesses, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told reporters on Friday.

According to the PM, the municipalities would use the funds for specific projects that would improve the lives of the citizens, while the businesses would be given aid due to the bad market conditions, in turn, they would have to “pay back” through investments, with at least 5.000 new jobs and a growth of production that would be five percent higher than the rate of inflation.

Mickoski said the reactions of some politicians claiming he promised EUR 1 billion while only bringing EUR 500 million are “rushed”. “The funds,” he said, “are being secured in line with the needs. The cooperation with Hungary isn’t limited, the framework has been opened, and currently we need EUR 500 million which is why that’s the amount we’ve secured”.  

The PM reiterated that the EUR 500 million from Hungary represent a “special economic cooperation on the level of governments”.

“This is a type of cooperation that isn’t limited. I regret that I read comments from certain politicians - ‘he promised a billion, he brought 500 million’. But I say we promised a billion, and brought more, but when it is necessary. Currently, we need 500 million, 250 [million] for the municipalities, to finance their projects, which is very important for the citizens, since they want concrete projects. And we want to give EUR 250 million to businesses, since the conditions they have on the market are at least 2.5 times worse: 6-7 percent interest rate without a grace period and a shorter repayment period,” Mickoski said.

Mickoski said in turn, in exchange for receiving assistance from the Government, the businesses would be obliged to secure at least 5.000 new jobs annually and a growth of production that would be 5 percent higher than the rate of inflation. This, he said, would be required from the businesses since “partnership implies two sides”. 

Photo: MIA