Skopje, 14 May 2022 (MIA) – The Ukrainian crisis should be a call for awakening of the European Union and a call for greater engagement and commitment to the Western Balkans, to actively engage to clarify our European perspective, said Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj in a statement to Serbia’s Tanjug news agency. Marichikj added that since the beginning of the formation of the new government, intensive talks have been held with Bulgaria and the reform plan is being worked on so that the negotiations can start as soon as possible. “We are not tied to dates, but we expect to use the leadership of President Macron and France during their presidency and start negotiations, because we have been EU candidate country for 17 years, we have met all the requirements and we really deserve it, but the decision remains of the Union,” Marichikj added. When asked to comment the ‘Open Balkan’ initiative, Deputy PM said that it is a good initiative that should be upgraded and that Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo should be included, and to show that positive things region can do for the citizens, the Secretariat for European Affairs said in a press release on Saturday. It is crucial to show the citizens that the countries in the region, North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania, can make life easier for the citizens and young professionals to move throughout the region. The Green Corridors enabled easy supply of goods and we should be grateful for such an opportunity, to be able to maintain the level of supply of all products, because of that cooperation, Deputy PM Marichikj said.