Comments by Rapporteur Waitz and Enlargement Commissioner Kos that North Macedonia is lagging with regards to the Reform Agenda and could lose funds from the Growth Plan were confirmed on Tuesday by European Affairs Minister Sali, too.
He said they were a warning regarding the 10 steps in the Agenda that should be completed by the end of June of this year. As the Minister explained, there is work on all spheres in relation to both the grace period and the regular one, during which the steps must be fulfilled.
“I believe we are not lagging too much, out of 10 points, we are nearing completion on 6”, Sali stated.
EU Ambassador Rokas, too, agreed that Rapporteur Waitz and Commissioner Kos had issued a warning about the Reform Agenda. However, he noted that the Government had intensified reforms to meet deadlines.
Ambassador Rokas also stated that the Commissioner’s warning concerned all Western Balkan countries, not only North Macedonia, when it came to reform agendas. However, some laws that should be passed will not be ready by the end of June because there is no consensus on the Electoral Code, Minister Sali pointed out.
For Kanal 5, Waitz, regarding his comments, says it is about an old interview, adding that North Macedonia is making progress and has additional time to meet the Reform Agenda steps by June.