Skopje, 16 May 2023 (MIA) – The Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs finished on Tuesday the discussion on the bill amending the law on urban planning, under fast-track procedure, and forwarded it to further proceedings in the Parliament. The Committee did not adopt any of the seven proposed amendments to the bill by VMRO-DPMNE MPs.

Following the discussion, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Bekim Rexhepi, pointed out that the amendments to the law on urban planning introduce a new method that will be used for the construction of highways and gas pipelines, adding that it will give better and faster results.

"The construction procedure is being changed for projects on strategic importance, to enable a much simpler and faster implementation of the projects," said Rexhepi. 

VMRO-DPMNE MP Eli Panova said it was a usual procedure for a representative of the Government to give an explanation for the changes at the beginning of the discussion, and not at the end of it, so that the MPs can give counterarguments. She requested that this be the case at Wednesday's session of the Committee, which was accepted by the Deputy Minister.

Earlier in the discussion, VMRO-DPMNE MP Lidija Petkovska said the amendments to the legal solution are a suspension of Macedonian law by abusing the "EU flag", and they are beyond any legal logic.

"Laws must not be changed for the sake of a particular project, but should establish a system of protection. By hiding the contract with Bechtel and Enka also from colleagues with a security clearance, you only confirm our suspicions, because a foreign legal entity cannot be the creator of classified contracts. It is a derogation of the entire legislative system in the country and a bad example of the legalization of crime and corruption. Something cannot be of public interest if the public is completely excluded," Petkovska said, adding that as a party they are not against construction, but against the sale of state interests.

VMRO-DPMNE MP Dafina Stojanoska noted that in the corresponding table for alignment with European legislation, in regard to which the amendments to the law on urban planning are carried out under a fast-track procedure and with the use of the "EU flag", there is neither a name nor a surname of a signed official, nor date, but only a signature.

"You support or conceal a crime, and that is punishable. We are the poorest country in Europe, but we will pay for the most expensive highway, at least twice more expensive than usual," said Stojanoska. 

The Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs will discuss on Wednesday draft amendments to the law on construction, which is part of the five bills related to the construction of Corridors 8 and 10d. 

Photo: MIA