Skopje, 8 May 2023 (MIA) — From a political point of view, we can justify EU-flagging the five bills related to Corridors 8 and 10d so we can build these highways and complete the Trans-European Transport Network in North Macedonia, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj said Monday following the EU Delegation's request on Friday for the government to explain the reasons behind its using the fast-track procedure aimed at aligning laws with the EU acquis.

Marichikj said the government was in regular communication with EU officials and had explained the decision. He said Levica kept blocking Parliament and the bills were now being fast-tracked so this "illegitimate blockade" would be sidestepped.

"We should come out and say it: The decision was made to circumvent the illegitimate blockade by Levica, a pro-Russian party, an anti-NATO party, an anti-EU party that will do anything to prevent the [construction of] corridors within the trans-European networks and this project done by an American company. 

"We believe theirs is an illegitimate blockade and we want to circumvent it in a legitimate way, using an instrument at our disposal," Marichikj said, reiterating that the decision was politically justified.

He added that the government was aware that the proposed amendments were not aimed at aligning the country's laws with the European acquis. Nonetheless, he said, Corridor 8 should become part of the Trans-European Transport Network on May 16. mr/