Skopje – At a joint press conference held in the Government’s media center, Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani assessed the progress of implementing the Growth Plan’s reform agenda for North Macedonia as positive, though insufficient. He spoke alongside Michalis Rokas, the Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Skopje, during the presentation of measures related to the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and the Reform Agenda for 2024-2027.
In response to a journalist’s inquiry, Murtezani noted that the Reform Agenda, adopted in Brussels, includes an automatic 12-month grace period for any unfulfilled reforms. However, he emphasized that this should not serve as an excuse, as each period introduces additional reforms. Failure to implement these reforms promptly may lead to their accumulation, ultimately hindering successful completion.
According to Murtezani, while the feedback from the implementation process has been generally positive, he believes further strengthening is necessary. He highlighted the increase in the number of required reforms, indicating that the country needs to progress from five reform steps by December to 16 by June and 45 by the end of the year. Moreover, he pointed out that there are various reform processes concurrently underway that must align and meet their deadlines.
When asked about the potential loss of €750.4 million from the Growth Plan due to delays in reforms, Murtezani reiterated his commitment to enhancing the country’s capacity to utilize IPA funds since the beginning of his term. He warned that failure to take concrete steps could jeopardize not only the Growth Plan but also the Reform Agenda.
As Minister, Murtezani stressed that his focus lies in executing these activities, which extend beyond previous IPA issues. He noted that while the current implementation dynamics are good, they are not sufficient due to the need for an increased number of reforms.
Responding to a question regarding the sectors facing the most significant delays, Murtezani identified the judiciary as a particular area of concern, stating that reforms in this sector are progressing more slowly than expected. He expressed hope that the momentum would pick up in the near future. (March 28, 2025)
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