• Friday, 05 July 2024

Deputy PM: North Macedonia has solid foundation of preparedness 

Deputy PM: North Macedonia has solid foundation of preparedness 
Skopje, 22 November 2022 (MIA) - North Macedonia has a solid foundation and preparedness, but now we have to demonstrate continuity in meeting the EU membership criteria, Deputy Prime Minister Bojan Marichikj said Tuesday in Brussels at the second meeting of the bilateral screening of Chapter 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security. "This chapter is the foundation for democratic development of the Macedonian society on which the dynamic of the whole negotiating process will depend," he said adding the second meeting included presentations for asylum visas and migrations. Marichikj stressed that it was concluded by both the European Commission and the Macedonian team that high level of alignment has been recorded in this area. The Deputy PM also mentioned that fight against organized crime and corruption was discussed yesterday. "We have done a lot, but also much more remains to be done. It is motivating us and all other segments of the society to join forces and meet the conditions established after this meeting in order to have a successful, short and quick process of accession into the EU," Marichikj said. The Macedonian negotiating team at today's meeting presented the country's level of alignment with EU standards and activities taken in the areas of asylum, migration, and the EU's visa policy. On Wednesday, the team will continue to present all activities implemented in this chapter, divided into 12 subareas: asylum, migration, visas, external borders and the Schengen law, fight against organized crime, cooperation in the area of curbing drug trafficking, the fight against human trafficking, the fight against terrorism and radicalism, judicial cooperation and sharing of information, police and customs cooperation.