Skopje, 23 April 2025 (MIA) - All reform steps within the Reform Agenda 2024-2027, linked to the European Commission's Growth Plan, which were due by last December, have been forwarded to the Commission and are currently assessed, while those due by June 2025 are monitored and coordinated on a daily basis, said Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani on Wednesday.

"This entire process is new for us and the EC as well, and we are learning as we go. All reform steps that will not be completed in time include a 12-month grace period because of this," Minister Murtezani told reporters.

Asked about possible delays regarding certain laws, he said the pace on some pieces of legislation could be accelerated in order to meet the deadlines, without referring to specific bills.

"Reforms there require broader societal consensus, leading to more time needed for alignment. This does not mean that delays happen due to lack of coordination but these processes, by nature, require more time," said Murtezani.

He noted that today's roundtable on the challenges and benefits of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which took place in the Government, aimed to present the Reform Agenda before the NGO sector.

"This is a way to build partnerships with the NGO sector in the process of implementing the Growth Plan and the Reform Agenda, because we believe that the benefits are not sufficiently explained to the citizens, and we will continue to implement this approach," underlined Murtezani.

MIA file photo