Skopje, 30 August 2023 (MIA) - Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said Wednesday that European Council President, Charles Michel, has reiterated there is a concrete benchmark for the EU enlargement - 2030, and countries that implement their reforms faster will be the first to join the European Union in 2030. 

"At the beginning, I'd like to clear up three dilemmas: First, after a long time, the European Council President said in Bled and also told Slovenian media that there is a concrete benchmark for the European Union enlargement, which is 2030, and that is the year we say that North Macedonia will be ready," Kovachevski said at the beginning of a public forum titled "EU for the Macedonian Economy" launching the “We Are Europe” campaign on Wednesday. 

Commenting on French President Emmanuel Macron's statement about 'multi-speed Europe', Kovachevski said "this means that those who implement their reforms faster will be the first to join the European Union in 2030". 

"Thereon I want to refute the propagandists paid by third countries who do not want to see this country in the EU, to refute the structures of the former state security services from the time of Yugoslavia who also do not want to see this country in the EU, and those whose businesses believe that they can only work in an isolated country. President Macron said a multi-speed Europe, but that means that those who implement their reforms faster will be the first to join the European Union in 2030," said Kovachevski. 

The Prime Minister said that all the strategic decisions already taken by the Government and those that will be taken have a strategic goal, which is development of the economy, development of the private sector, new jobs and better paid jobs.

The public forum titled "EU for the Macedonian Economy", taking place in downtown Skopje, is launching the “We Are Europe” campaign organized by the Secretariat for European Affairs as part of the government's efforts to meet the country's strategic goal of joining the European Union.

Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj, Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi, Spanish Ambassador to the country José Luis Lozano García will also address the event on Wednesday. Government ministers, former PM Vlado Buchkovski, as well as citizens are also attending the event. 

As part of the “We Are Europe”  campaign, public forums will be organized in eight cities. They will cover multiple topics such as labor and social policy in Strumica, agriculture in Prilep, culture in Bitola, tourism and environment in Ohrid, youth in Tetovo, infrastructure in Shtip, and energy in Kumanovo.

Photo: MIA