Skopje, 29 June 2023 (MIA) – As part of her working visit to Brussels, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of good governance policies, Slavica Grkovska, met Thursday with Michela Matuella, the Acting Director for the Western Balkans at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations.

According to the Government, the meeting focused on the issue of the constitutional changes and the dynamics of the reform process in North Macedonia, and the importance of using the new momentum in the enlargement. Matuella stressed that North Macedonia’s full-fledged membership is a joint goal, and the European Commission continues to fully support the country.

“In her role as coordinator of the anti-corruption institutions in the country, Deputy PM Grkovska assessed that the situation in the judiciary is a key issue, because the double standards and impunity are deepening the distrust in the system, and prevent a more significant step forward in the fight against corruption and the rule of law. The latest events in the Judicial Council were also discussed at the meeting, as well as the ways to improve the overall situation in the judiciary through the existing legal instruments,” said the Government in a press release.

The Deputy PM also held a meeting with Mark Jorna, the screening-coordinator for North Macedonia and Western Balkans expert at the Directorate, during which they spoke about the steps taken by the Government to fulfill the strategic goals of the country.

“Grkovska and Jorna agreed that the problems with Bulgaria must be overcome, because no one benefits from disrupted relations between neighboring countries, and that the constitutional amendments will not result in any meaningful changes in the Constitution, since it already forbids discrimination,” said the press release.

Photo: Government