Skopje, 7 March 2023 (MIA) - Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj opened Tuesday a training for journalists within a project for comprehensive and informed coverage of North Macedonia's EU accession process, saying media have the power and potential to prepare citizens for the coming changes during the negotiations but also upon accession.

"European integration is currently the biggest Macedonian project that has to be a success story. Therefore, it is necessary to equip the society around this statehood task, recognizing the importance and the weight of the stage we are entering, but most importantly to bring the negotiations process closer to the public," said Deputy PM Marichikj.

Marichikj, who is also the country's Chief Negotiator with the EU, said the process would be easier if there is a joint front against fake news regarding the accession negotiations, the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA) said in a press release.

"In a time of disinformation and strong anti-NATO propaganda, it is a real challenge to provide citizens with accurate and quality information, so that they make decisions based on them," said Marichikj and added that the Government considers the media its partner in the negotiating process.

SEA State Secretary and Deputy Chief Negotiator with the EU, Drita Abdiu Halili said the road to full-fledged Union membership is complex and requires a lot of hard work, commitment, resources but also broader cohesion among all societal stakeholders, such as media, civil society, academic community, businesses etc.

"We are all equal on this road and we need everyone's contribution to reach the goal that we have set ourselves as a country - North Macedonia's full-fledged EU membership by 2030," noted Abdiu Halili.

The training, organized by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and supported by "Nordic Support for Progress of North Macedonia", aims to support and initiate increased cooperation between the Government and media over the importance of EU integration as the country's strategic goal since its independence.

Besides the training, the project also includes a three-day visit to Brussels, where journalists will get acquainted with the process and follow the explanatory screening meeting on chapters within Cluster 4 - Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity, reads the press release.

Photo: SEA