Page 22 - SE Outlook Regions 2023

crucial step in the EU integration process.

North Macedonia’s PM Dimitar Kovacevski said that the decision will
not be easy, but he expects MPs will “show statesmanship”.

“What is clear is that they have a choice to leave things as they are and
leave the country in stagnation and uncertainty, but I sincerely believe
and am confident that they will be up to the task and make a decision to
enable a better future for us and our children,” Kovacevski said.

In the meantime, opposition VMRO-DPMNE is pressing for snap
elections, dissatisfied with the work of the government of the SDSM and
the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration (DUI). Their
dissatisfaction mainly concerns the signing of what the opposition
believes is harmful bilateral protocol with Bulgaria, bad management of
the energy crisis and widespread corruption.

In October, North Macedonia signed a status agreement with the EU
that opens the way for the deployment of members of the EU Border
and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) as part of efforts to curb illegal
migration.

One of the government priorities next year will be the fight against
corruption.

The US new ambassador to Skopje Angela Aggeler recently
announced that a team of US investigators arrived in North Macedonia
to chase former and current corrupt officials from all political parties.

“Sanctions Team from Washington here to take a more aggressive look
at past and current corrupt actors, and to consider all possible
responses. North Macedonia’s justice sector needs more investigations,
prosecutions to show that no one is above the law,” Aggeler said.

The government officials and President Stevo Pendarovski as well as
opposition parties welcomed the decision.

North Macedonia will start the implementation of tax reforms on
January 1, 2023, but the government abandoned the planned concept
of progressive taxation.

Reforms will include revision of tax exemptions, expanding the tax base
and finally suppressing the informal economy. Тhe introduction of
progressive taxation was pre-election promise of the Social Democrats
to deal with the growing inequality in the country.

22 SE Outlook 2023 www.intellinews.com