European Union’s Commissioner for Enlargement told Macedonian authorities to work on the reforms necessary for the European integration, the Beta news agency reported.
The European Commission (EC) said earlier on Tuesday that Johannes Hahn would meet Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, the Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi and the representatives of political parties and civil society in Skopje.
“There is no time to waste,” Hahn said in Skopje.
Hahn was on a two-day visit to both Macedonia and Albania to start the screeneing process with both countries for the kick off of the accession talks with the bloc scheduled for June 2019.
I am pleased to announce today the official launch of the #screening process with ??! The screening is a thorough & detailed exercise which will familiarize the country w/ #EU legislation. The #EuroAtlantic integration requires national unity + a real #European consensus! pic.twitter.com/T2953us4zX
— Johannes Hahn (@JHahnEU) July 17, 2018
“Let’s start the work; you have a date with history… We are at the beginning of a very long journey,” Hahn told the Macedonian National Council during the session in the country’s parliament.
Hahn added that the Macedonians had “a unique opportunity to unite all different forces in the society and make significant progress. You are facing many challenges, and therefore I encourage you to remain focused and united.”
He said that the main parts of the reform process included the judiciary, fight against corruption and organised crime and the transformation of the security services and administration.
Hahn is going to Albania on Wednesday to meet Prime Minister Edi Rama.
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