Mickoski: EU Criteria Are Unfairly Different for North Macedonia
The EU has been and will remain our goal, but unfortunately, we are the only country in Europe for which the criteria are of a completely different nature, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told the Macedonia2025 Summit on Monday, CE Report quotes MIA.
"Some of the concessions made in the past by many politicians are the result of certain processes in which they were themselves dragged into and pushed to the wall, having nowhere to go. Some out of frivolity and gullibility, and some out of national despondency and lack of care about the sacrifices made in the past, nor did they have the opportunity to have a vision for the future. And now, this Government has to live with all of that and fight, to regain some of that space that someone else previously occupied. It is difficult, it is not easy, but we will fight," said Mickoski.
In that fight, he added, there is absolute commitment.
"Our strategy was to gain ground and present our arguments. That is the democratic tool we have at our disposal, we have no other. We are one of the smallest nations and states in Europe, and that is the only way. That means we have to be two, three times better than everyone else if you want to sound logical and be understood by others, and you have to learn to win in Washington, in Brussels, in Berlin, in Paris and in Rome... if you want to send a different message than the one that has been heard for years," the PM said.
The vision of Macedonia2025 for the domestic economy is zero tolerance for corruption, five percent economic growth per year, EU accession, and efficient public administration.
According to Macedonia2025 CEO, Nikica Mojsoska Blazheski, corruption is the biggest problem in the country, but the country still lacks a consensus on what kind of economy it wants. Businessmen are still perceived as profiteers, not as job creators.
"There is progress in Macedonia, but others are growing faster than us. We want a market economy, but we demand state interventionism, workers demand higher wages, but they do not talk about improving their skills. It is easy to blame the neighbours, the Government, but we all contribute to how prosperous the country will be. This Government has started painful reforms, I believe it looks a little beyond the election cycle," Mojsoska Blazheski said.
Chairman of the Macedonia2025 Board of Directors, Viktor Mizo, delivered an opening speech, announcing rebranding of Macedonia2025.
"There is still a lot of work to be done for Macedonia to prosper, more foreign investments, reforms in healthcare and education, the rule of law, fight against corruption," said Mizo, highlighting good cooperation with the Government.
Accelerating economic growth, digital policies and innovations for a future-ready economy, aligning the country’s economic potential with smart investments, application of artificial intelligence, reinstating investments and the role of the diaspora in national growth are in the focus of the Macedonia2025 Summit. Participants will also discuss decentralisation of power, media and digital freedom, redefining of strategies of foreign direct investments, the education of future and shaping of leaders, thinkers and innovators.
