Skopje, 3 December 2021 (MIA) – The National EU Integration Council on Friday resumed its third session, which includes a debate on the European Commission’s 2021 report on North Macedonia. The session was postponed after beginning on November 23 due to the deadly bus accident in Bulgaria, which claimed the lives of 45 North Macedonia nationals and left seven injured. The key findings of the 2021 report on the country on November 23 were presented by EU Ambassador David Geer. Speaking at today’s session, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov offered condolences to the loves ones of the victims and wished speedy recovery of the injured passengers. Dimitrov recalled that the country has been a candidate for joining the EU for 16 years. The country, he said, received the first positive report 12 years ago and we established a solid preparedness level by implementing the Stabilization and Association Agreement. The administration staff has the capacity, but unfortunately it is tired from this patience exercise, Dimitrov noted. “It’s evident we need a motivation, we need to start the negotiation process, which will motivate the services, motivate the civil servants and in general, it will change completely the political climate in the country,” stated the Deputy PM. The EC’s balanced 2021 report, he said, has a total of 1,357 findings, positive changes were noted whereas a total of 771 areas were pointed out as needing additional efforts. “In other words, the Commission has 57 percent of praise and 43 percent of recommendations. Most recommendations are noted in the green agenda cluster and the second cluster is internal market,” Dimitrov added urging EU-related laws to be adopted. According to Sonja Mirakovska, Vice President of the National EU Integration Council, the ruling majority has demonstrated commitment to implementing the EU accession agenda. VMRO-DPMNE MP Aleksandar Nikolovski said he hoped that the opening of EU negotiations would be approved. “However, I’m pessimistic, but I still hope that on December 14 a miracle will happen and that Bulgaria will drop the positions it has now,” he said. He criticized the government about its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the procurement of vaccines, the energy crisis, and rising unemployment. “If the state remains silent and we’re left without EU assistance from January 15 to February 2021, when companies will start to close, other players will start roaming here offering cheap gas and cheap power,” the opposition MP said. Slovenian Ambassador Milan Predan and Deputy Head of the EU Delegation Julian Vassallo were also in attendance.