Skopje, 7 February 2023 (MIA) – We are making steps forward year after year in transparency, rule of law and democracy in the state and the fight against crime and corruption, which is shown by the country's rankings by international institutions, said Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski on Tuesday.

He emphasized there are always opportunities and there is the need for progress, despite current accomplishments, while taking into consideration the divided powers between the executive and the judiciary in the fight against crime and corruption.

“If we look at the MoI’s pointers for the number of cases year after year, we can see that we are truly making progress. We have opened 120 cases involving corruption in 2022 alone. It contributes to the promotion of the fight against crime and corruption in the state, the improvement of the rule of law and the resistance and efficiency of institutions,” said PM Kovachevski.

He emphasized that a concept of vetting is being discussed for all institutions that would shed light on the individuals involved in corruption.

“We can’t generalize whole systems and institutions with one mark, because there are individuals in every system that do their jobs at a high level, some don’t, meaning that their work should improve or they should be replaced. North Macedonia does all of these activities, the realization of which is aided by the EU and the US,” said Kovachevski.

One of the key topics in the strategic dialogue with the US is the fight against corruption and organized crime, which is also part of the EU screening, with Kovachevski “waiting impatiently” for the EU report that will show us all the criteria and what stage of fulfilment of these criteria the country is in, and the activities it will have to implement to create a system equal to EU member states or a system through the strategic dialogue that will be closest to the US system.

Kovachevski also pointed out that the country aims to improve the work of institutions in all areas, such as the rule of law, free trade, economic liberties and democracy because it improves the citizens’ living standard, brngs higher economic activity and openness, more jobs, preventing workforce drain and attracting other workforce in the country, following the example of the most developed countries in the world.

“That is the path of North Macedonia and the path of the entire region towards better life for everyone. There is no alternative,” concluded Kovachevski. dk/ik/