Skopje, 1 December 2023 (MIA) — Five infrastructure projects in five municipalities in North Macedonia will be implemented with Slovenian aid worth 2.1 million euros, in line with a memorandum signed Friday by Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj and Slovenia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon.

On the basis of the 2004 bilateral agreement on development cooperation, the signed Memorandum on International Development Cooperation 2023–2024 foresees the Government of Slovenia supporting the construction of a wastewater treatment system in the Dojran Lake catchment area with 1.3 million euros.

Some 225,000 euros are earmarked for a hydropower plant at the Knezhevo dam in the municipality of Kratovo.

Around 224,000 euros are going toward building a water loss reduction system in the municipality of Kochani, and 100,000 euros will go to cofinancing the Shtip preschool center renovation and a local program for raising environmental awareness among children.

And Kriva Palanka will get 50,000 euros to help install solar panels.

These projects will benefit the local citizens and the country as a whole, Deputy PM Marichikj noted, announcing that additional projects would be planned as soon as early 2024.

Speaking at a press conference after the signing, Marichikj said Slovenia was one of the biggest donors to the country.

"In addition to the support we receive from Slovenia for investing in infrastructure projects, its technical support as part of our integration process with the European Union is very important for us," Marichikj noted. He added that almost 260,000 euros would be made available for financing this kind of support.

Apart from bilateral development cooperation, he said, great potential for cooperation existed in IPA projects and aligning national border management systems.

Slovenia is also a strong supporter of the new EU enlargement package with the countries of the Western Balkans in 2030, Marichikj pointed out.

"In this year's progress report, the European Commission sent us a strong message that we should continue and intensify the work on the track we are on," he said.

"We have made progress in 80 percent of the chapters and there is no setback in any chapter. This does not mean that we are done, but that we have a good basis to move forward," he noted.

He reiterated that adopting the constitutional changes was the only way to continue the country's European integration process.

lovenian Deputy Prime Minister Fajon agreed, adding that the constitutional changes were pivotal and urging all political parties to support them.

"North Macedonia is one of Slovenia's most important partners. For decades, we have been supporting North Macedonia's joining the EU as well as helping its development projects. Today we signed the fifth memorandum," Fajon said, noting that since 2010, Slovenia has invested more than 43 million euros in the country in environmental protection projects.

She said Slovenia sincerely hoped the country would move forward in its European path and said it would offer its help at the next intergovernmental conference, when the first cluster of negotiations opens.

"I urge all responsible parties in this country to take the necessary steps including changing the Constitution so the process of enlargement and pre-accession negotiations can continue," Fajon said, adding that the enlargement had become a geostrategic urgency.

"I wish North Macedonia a lot of courage, a lot of self-confidence, and solid work," she said, highlighting that the country could count on Slovenia's help along the way. mr/