Skopje, 10 June 2023 (MIA) - Deputy PM for European Affairs and Chief Negotiator with the EU, Bojan Marichikj, has told MIA that he expects the EU screening reports to be put before the council of ministers during the summer, adding that the screening reports on the Fundamentals and Internal Market clusters are in a stage of consultations within the European Commission.

"The European Commission has still not delivered the reports, probably out of tactical or strategic reasons, and considering the dynamics of the constitutional amendments. We know that the screening reports on the first and second clusters, Fundamentals and Internal Market, are already in a consultation stage within the Commission and we expect them to be put before the council of EU ministers this summer," Deputy PM Marichikj says in an interview with MIA.

In parallel, he adds, we are working on drafting the roadmaps and expect the screening reports to be adopted in the fall. By submitting the roadmaps, we will have practically met the criteria for the opening of the first cluster, alongside the constitutional revision.

"That is why it is important to keep things going. We are planning to complete the key part of the negotiating team this summer, including the opposition. We want this team to work in continuity and be supported by all political parties," says Marichikj.