Skopje, 7 November 2022 (MIA) - EU membership is a top national interest and it should be treated as such. I expect everyone to be up to the task in the coming period and to do their best. EU is our only alternative and we should use the favorable period ahead and the support we're getting so as to secure European and richer future for our citizens, present and future generations, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski stated after Monday's meeting in Parliament with parliamentary party leaders. He called the meeting, which included all parliamentary party leaders but two, positive. Yet, the prime minister said, there will be no conclusions from the meeting. The citizens, Kovachevski, should know that the EU integration process is not the project of one party and Parliament should send the message that it is a national project in which everyone must contribute. "Many challenges lie ahead. I told the parliamentary party leaders that Parliament must function without disruptions as the legislative body is of crucial importance for our European path. All parties and all lawmakers must engaged to unblock processes and approve more effective solutions, especially judiciary-related laws that are key for rule of law and key for our European path and to restore public trust in the judiciary," Kovachevski told the media. Inclusivity and unity over the EU accession issue is more than needed, it shouldn't be used as a ground for political fight, urged the PM. "We mustn't allow the constitutional changes we are obliged to under the European proposal with the Parliament conclusions to be the hurdle we set ourselves. For the first time, the decisions depend on us and we will be responsible for any blockade that might arise," Kovachevski said calling the stakeholders to be wise and take advantage of the favorable mood in the EU in our favor. According to him, political will and capacity is needed for acknowledging all the efforts made so far as soon as possible for the country to join the EU. "It's no time to be divided. Now, it is the right time to seize the chance and meet the goal we have set with full capacity," Kovachevski said adding he had proposed the establishment of a parliamentary group for European reforms. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, PM Kovachevski said that the Parliament conclusions guarantee start of EU negotiations and a screening process with a language and identity that are guaranteed and a guarantee that historical issues are not included in the negotiating framework. He reiterated that the opening of negotiations is a major success for everyone in the country. "It is important to implement reforms for the citizens and to build institutions that will function according to European standards and principles," the PM stated. Our commitment to the European future, Kovachevski stressed, has been confirmed with the first intergovernmental conference that marked the start of the EU negotiations, the start of the screening process and the signing of the Frontex agreement in Macedonian without any footnotes and asterisks. "We must show maturity as a country and a democratic capacity to stay on the EU membership track in the years to come. We need to start a new story in which North Macedonia becomes European country with rule of law, order and better living conditions," PM Kovachevski stressed. The meeting was attended by Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi and the leaders of DUI-Ali Ahmeti, DOM-Maja Morachanin, VMRO-DPMNE-Hristijan Mickoski, Alternativa-Afrim Gashi, DS-Pavle Trajanov, DPA-Menduh Thaci, AA-Arben Taravari, VMRO-NP-Ljupcho Balkoski, DPSM-Ivan Stoiljkovikj, NSDP-Goran Misovski, GROM-Stevche Jakimovski, Socialist Party-Ljupcho Dimovski, LDP-Monika Zajkova, Party of Pensioners-Ilija Nikolovski. Levica and BESA leaders, Dimitar Apasiev and Bilal Kasami respectively, refused to attend.