Skopje, 21 September 2022 (MIA) – Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj met Wednesday afternoon in Brussels with the acting Director for the Western Balkans in the EC’s Directorate General for Neighborhood and Enlargement negotiations, Michela Matuella and her team, which monitors the screening process and the progress of North Macedonia. The talks were focused on the start of the screening process, the current political situation in North Macedonia, the challenges we might face this winter and joint action in that direction, as well as the future activities and expectations within the framework of the bilateral screening. Marichikj commented positively on the first meetings of the screening process, saying that there is a desire and commitment on the part of the administration and the institutions to successfully complete the process of EU negotiations. “The opening of the negotiations is a success for all. We are now at a stage where the entire society needs to commit to the screening process, which will undoubtedly speed up the reforms. The reforms will mean benefits for the citizens in the long term. We are motivated and it is a good sign that we will complete the screening process as planned with the European Commission,” Marichikj noted. Matuella noted that the opening of accession negotiations gives a new direction in the development of North Macedonia and that now it is important that everyone is fully committed to this process, which will speed up the reforms and transform the country for the better. Matuella added that the enthusiasm of the Macedonian teams at the meetings of the screening process was obvious, voicing hope that this will continue to be the case during the bilateral meetings within the screening process, noting that we will work together to apply all the recommendations and advice from the European Commission correctly, in order to fulfill our tasks faster and easier for EU membership. At the meeting, Deputy PM Marichikj briefed the representatives of the European Commission on the negotiating structure, noting that the final consultations are being held with all social stakeholders and that the best, experts in their field are being sought to set up the negotiation teams before the start of bilateral meetings within the screening process.