Skopje, 17 July 2023 (MIA) – The Government is to reassess the decision to merge the concessions for the Ilovica mine at a session Tuesday, and will review a more extensive report from the Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi, and the employees in charge of granting concessions at the Economy Ministry, said Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jovanka Trenchevska in answer to a journalist’s question Monday.

“There will be no mine, because the position of SDSM’s ministers is the same as the position of the citizens in the Strumica region, in Novo Selo, Bosilovo and Vasilevo. The vote for this item was added additionally at the session, and usually, when we have additional items, the explanation given by the competent minister is the one we rely on, which is why we voted for the item. However, at tomorrow’s session we will have a more extensive report from the Economy Minister and the employees in charge of granting concessions at the Ministry of Economy, so they can clarify everything, all the court decisions, all additional documents that have been issued, and tomorrow we will reassess the decision to merge the concessions,” said Trenchevska, adding that the concession was granted during VMRO-DPMNE’s Government.

The Minister said she does not believe the mines could be a reason for disagreement within the ruling coalition, because, she said, “this Government cares for the citizens and invests in them.”

“If rural development is a priority of the Government, the Strumica region, with its fertile soil, is precisely what the Government is working towards – investment in agriculture, farmers and domestic production,” said Minister Trenchevska, who alongside the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Kaja Shukova, attended the protest against the mines in Strumica on Saturday.

The activists at the protest Saturday called for a scrapping of the concessions, as well as accountability by all who contributed to the possible opening of a mine in the Strumica region, while the concessionaire of the mine, Euromax Resources, assessed that all concerns can only be addressed appropriately through a constructive dialogue and by presenting the facts.

“Our unreserved readiness to establish an ‘Independent Monitoring Body’, consisting of interested civil society organizations, local self-government and experts monitoring the process of realization and work of the future mine is to that end as well,” said the concessionaire.

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