Skopje, 23 December 2021 (MIA) – The draft-law on regulating the status of illegal constructions will prevent the legalization of buildings in protected areas, said Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Naser Nuredini on Thursday. “The same goes for all types of illegal constructions in the Ohrid region not in line with the plan for management of the world and cultural heritage of the Ohrid region. This area has priceless natural, cultural and universal value,” Minister Nuredini told a joint press conference with Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski. On protected areas, he said no legalization will take place in zones of strict protection and active management. “This means that only those constructions intended for housing in the zone for sustainable use and the area’s protected area will be eligible for legalization,” added Nuredini. Minister Bochvarski said the legalization law would cover constructions built up to 1 January 2021, with the exception of those within the Ohrid region and protected areas. The increase of the legalization free will depend on the size of the construction, namely a 50-percent increase for buildings up to 80m2 and 100-percent increase for buildings exceeding 80m2. Citizens with annual net income below Mden 180,000 (EUR 3,000) will be exempted from the legalization fee. “This is a new law that differs from the previous one, to which the public reacted, and this piece of legislation considers almost all proposals by civil society organizations, chambers, associations and parties concerned. The law has also been aligned with other state institutions, in an attempt to put an end to illegal construction. On the other hand, the law offers fair criteria for citizens who did not have the option of legalizing their homes before,” said Bochvarski. The timeframe for submission of legalization requests is six months after the law enters into force.