Skopje, 10 April 2023 (MIA) — Whether President Stevo Pendarovski signs the new bills on the highway construction into laws will depend on their final version, he said in response to a reporter's question on his position regarding the Corridor 8 and Corridor 10d bills being discussed in Parliament on Monday.

President Pendarovski said the current draft laws may be amended.

"Let's wait for the outcome of the debate. Let's see the final content of those laws," Pendarovski said, adding that his legal aides were following the debate. 

"Although they are under an accelerated procedure, they are not fast-tracked by the EU so there will be enough time for the opposition to submit amendments, to join the debate, and to have the reasoned discussion this important set of laws deserves," the President said.

Asked about recent reactions by experts and civil society, he said they were commenting on the draft versions.

"They are reacting at this stage, but these are the proposed laws," Pendarovski said.

"Both the opposition and the government can submit amendments. It is important that the President sees the final bills and [whether they get signed into law] only depends on that. If they violate citizens' rights, if they violate the rights of third parties, etc., of course some of those laws will not pass. But let's see their final versions first," Pendarovski said.

Proposed by a group of MPs from the ruling majority, amendments and updates to nine laws on the highway sections to be built by the US-Turkish consortium Bechtel and Enka are on the agenda of Parliament's 112th session being held Monday. mr/