Skopje, 8 November 2022 (MIA) – I am an optimist that we will manage to complete the constitutional changes by the end of the screening because it is unthinkable that we would come to a situation where we block ourselves, said Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj on Tuesday. For the first time on record, he said, the blockade is in our hands not in the neighbors’. “There will be no hindrance if we pass the constitutional changes, entry into the next stage will not depend on anyone and the second intergovernmental conference will be scheduled immediately. If we fail to complete these tasks, then a new IGC will not take place after the screening. Therefore, I believe that everyone will be up to the task and aware of the need to give support, especially considering that we had made much more difficult constitutional changes in the past,” said Marichikj. Asked how yesterday’s failed leaders’ meeting would reflect on the screening process, the Deputy PM said the screening is ongoing and the meeting was only the beginning of the political dialogue. “The screening process has been ongoing since September 15, regardless of the outcome of any meeting among political parties. In fact, yesterday’s meeting was only the beginning of a continued political dialogue that will last up until next November, and it has been quite successful until now,” said Marichikj and added that three clusters of the explanatory screening have been completed. He noted that the bilateral screening would begin this Friday. “This is a new stage and we are intensively preparing for it. We will start with Chapter 5 – Public Procurement within the fundamentals cluster. The Parliament plays an important role, as are civil society organizations. Everyone needs to assume their portion of the responsibility in the process of negotiations. We are prepared to develop a plan of reforms that will be adopted in the Parliament and we will also have to discuss this and other steps but also the constitutional revision. It is easy to voice support for the Euro-integration process but the real support is demonstrated when tough decisions have to be taken for the sake of the country,” underlined Marichikj.