1 October 2021 Skopje – Prime Minister Zoran Zaev met Friday with Christa Schweng, the President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), who is in Skopje for the two-day Western Balkans Civil Society Forum, the government said Friday. Skopje – The coming period is decisive for the future of the region’s European integration. The European Union is being tested whether it will continue to act as partner to the progressive forces that promote the European vision, or leave room for other ideas due to lack of action, which would make us all losers, said Deputy PM for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov during a meeting with Josip Juratovic, Bundestag member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), at the sidelines of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Friday. Skopje – Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani held Friday a farewell meeting with UNDP Resident Representative Narine Sahakyan, whom he thanked for the personal engagement and numerous initiatives in the fields of economy, social inclusion, gender equality, institutional strengthening, environment, climate change and fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Skopje – We will completely transform the country’s energy sector over the next 5-7 years and realize a great number of investments in renewable energy sources, Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi told forum “Strategic Economic Talks”, held in Istria, Croatia on September 30-October 2. Skopje – The report from MoI’s Forensic Department on the Tetovo modular hospital fire has arrived at the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Tetovo on Friday. Skopje – The number of daily infections in schools ranges between 0.01 and 0.03 percent, with 0.26 percent of active cases among 240,000 pupils in primary and secondary schools, said Minister of Education and Science Mila Carovska on Friday. Skopje – A total of 788,058 people have been vaccinated, 729,794 have been fully vaccinated with 235 receiving their third dose until September 30, the Health Ministry said Friday. Skopje – Draft-amendments related to the shortened working hours for public administration employees on Friday is to be discussed in the coming period, citizens will have their say and the Government will listen closely, said Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. Skopje – Civil – Center for Freedom, a NGO monitoring the 2021 election campaign, has identified irregularities, cases of political misuse of children and cases of COVID-19 protocols being violated, its president Xhabir Derala said Friday. Skopje – My vision is Skopje to become a modern, European capital, a city we all will be proud of, that will communicate directly and openly with its citizens, Danela Arsovska, an independent candidate running for mayor of the City of Skopje, said Friday presenting part of the projects included in her election program. Kumanovo – The Embassy of Japan has donated a new heating system to “Svetozar Markovikj” elementary school in the municipality of Staro Nagorichane. Japanese Ambassador Hironori Sawada on Friday visited the school, which is a beneficiary of the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). Makedonska Kamenica — The Government of the Republic of North Macedonia is investing in road rehabilitation and building new, modern and safe roads, which have changed the appearance of the east and cut travel time, according to Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski on Friday after inspecting construction works on the road to the village of Cera. Warsaw – Poland’s parliament has voted to extend the state of emergency on its border with Belarus, as the high volume of migrants attempting to cross illegally into Poland shows no sign of slowing. Amsterdam – German food discounter Lidl no longer sells cigarettes or tobacco in its more than 400 shops in the Netherlands. Madrid – A new vent has formed at the volcano on the Canary island of La Palma that erupted 12 days ago.