The opening of funds under the European Union’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans for reforms implemented in North Macedonia is a clear indication of the government’s European orientation, which is why “there is no need to waste citizens’ time and money on a referendum” on EU membership, the government of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said in response to opposition calls for a referendum on joining the EU.
The request was made by Venko Filipce, leader of the opposition SDSM, who proposed that citizens decide through a referendum whether the country should become a member of the European Union.
“We are pro-EU and this is our strategic orientation, which we are implementing in practice,” the government in Skopje said in a statement, referring to the 2019 referendum on changing the country’s name following the Prespa Agreement with Greece.
“The government of Mickoski admits it has no money to organize a referendum in which citizens can decide their future themselves. This is yet another confirmation that there is no money in the budget. We have been saying this for months, because the government borrows money every day. There is money only for the criminal group VMRO(-DPMNE)… There is no money for higher wages, no money for a minimum wage of EUR 600, no money for measures supporting citizens, and no money for subsidies for farmers. There is no money for a referendum in which citizens can decide the fate of their families and children… Call a referendum! Let citizens decide!” SDSM said in a statement issued later on Thursday.
/RY/