Skopje, 18 March 2025 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told journalists Tuesday the failure to control whether a certain nightclub meets the criteria is a result of legal amendments made in 2007, according to which the legal entity is the one that states it meets the criteria without any checks by the inspectorate, which only acts upon a complaint. Mickoski said a working group would be established to draft amendments to the Law on Hospitality to resolve the issue.

The PM said as of yesterday other bodies within the institutions have established committees to examine all licenses in the country.

The action launched by the State Market Inspectorate, said Mickoski, would lead to the closure of all buildings that don’t meet the minimum required technical criteria.

He urged reason, noting he understands the revolt “but there can be no justice with injustices and anarchy”.

“Checks are underway, and rest assured that not a single building that doesn’t meet the minimum technical criteria in line with the law, will be allowed to continue to operate, despite the risk and criticism the Government will suffer as a result,” Mickoski said.

The Prime Minister said he regrets that “all of this was tolerated and the people within the Ministry of Economy, even when receiving the documents under full material, moral and criminal responsibility, did not check the documents and issued licenses in 15 minutes for a certain compensation”.

“But that is what we can say today. If I could turn back time a few years everything would be different, unfortunately I can’t. What I can do as a Prime Minister, both yesterday and today at a session of Government is a robust action, strict control and anyone who doesn’t meet the criteria in line with the law will be closed and sanctioned,” Mickoski said.

Photo/Video: Government