1 година промени - Македонија за сите!

 

 

Експозе на премиерот Зоран Заев

Преземи ја публикацијата

 

 

ECONOMIC GROWTH, HIGHER SALARIES AND MORE MONEY FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR EVERYONE!

1.       We raised the minimum wage to 12 thousand denars, by which 90 thousand our fellow citizens received higher salaries;

2.       The average monthly net salary paid per employee in March this year is 5.6 percent higher compared to the same month last year, while the average gross salary paid was by 5.3 percent higher compared to March 2017;

3.       We achieved an increase in the average wage in clothing production by 16%, and in the textile industry by 24% and we initiated additional salary growth;

4.       With the measures from the Economic Growth Plan, we stimulate and help companies pay higher salaries and employ highly qualified staff;

5.       In the Budget for 2018, we provided funds for higher salaries in the Army (by 10%), health, education and childcare (by 5%, starting from September 2018);

6.       We move safely towards achieving the promise for an average salary in the amount of 30 thousand denars;

7.       With the abolition of the broadcasting fee, we provided additional savings for the citizens in the amount of 12.4 million Euros;

8.       We have restored the cheap electricity tariff for all. The electricity bills are lower.

9.       We achieved positive economic growth in the second half of 2017, despite the inherited negative growth in the first six months of 2017;

10.     We provided support for domestic greenfield investments with funds in the amount of 900 million MK denars;

11.     We provided 645 million MK denars or 10.5 million Euros for the measures for support of small and medium enterprises;

12.     We increased the funds intended for innovation and technological development from 20.5 to 34.2 million MK denars, respectively for 150%;

13.     We have established equal conditions for investing for domestic and foreign investors, which will apply equally both in TIR and beyond;

14.     In the budget for 2018, we allocated about 50 million Euros for the country's economic Development Programme, or 46% more than last year;

15.     We provided incentives, opportunities, transparent conditions and criteria for investor support;

16.     We provide support for increasing the cooperation between domestic and foreign companies;

17.     We support the establishment of research and development centers;

18.     We have created measures by which the state is financially assisting the companies to open new, better paid jobs;

19.     We allocated additional billion MK Denars for the active employment measures;

20.     For the first time, we reduced the public debt (as% of GDP) from 48.5% of GDP in 2016 to 46.7% of GDP in 2017;

21.     We successfully issued a Eurobond with a historically convincingly low interest rate of 2.75%, with double the lower interest rate in relation to the previous five bonds;

22.     Credit rating agency Fitch improved Macedonia's outlook from negative to positive (confirming at the same time the BB's credit rating);

23.     We open the Public Treasury - the citizens will be able to see/follow on their computers how each denar is spent;

24.     We cut the discretionary spending of the authorities/power-holders;

25.     We provide VAT returns on a regular and indiscriminative basis;

26.     In the last quarter of 2017, employment increased by 1.9% (on annual basis), and unemployment declined to 21.9% (from 22.1% in the third quarter of 2017);

27.     In 2017, the number of employees increased by 17 thousand persons compared to 2016;

28.     At the end of 2017 we achieved the highest rate of realization of capital investments (83.6 percent of the projected);

28.     For capital investments, we allocated 1.43 billion denars more than the amount set in the rebalance in 2017, and a serious part of these funds is intended for improvement of the infrastructure;

30.     We have introduced a new Law on Public Procurement aimed at improving the quality of procurement, strengthening the transparency and control of procedures and facilitating the procedures;

31.     We made 12 key changes aimed at improving the budget transparency in the Ministry of Finance;

32.     We announced a Citizens' Budget for the 2018 Budget, aimed at providing the citizens with a comprehensive picture of the spending of public finances;

33.     We reduced significantly, about 90%, the budget for promotional activities and road shows;

34.     We provided 16 foreign investments of a total value of 200 million Euros for one year, which provided 2750 jobs;

35.     We have realized meetings with more than 200 companies, where we presented the investment opportunities in Macedonia;

36.     We resolved the problems with the construction and put into operation the Demir Kapija-Smokvica highway;

37.     We resolved the problems with the construction of the Miladinovce-Stip highway, which is expected to be completed by September 2018;       

38.     We are resolving all inherited problems regarding the construction of the highway Kicevo-Ohrid, for which an additional deadline is given until June 2021;

39.     The second phase of realization of the expressway Gradsko-Prilep started;

40.     We started the construction of the expressway Stip-Kocani;

41.     We provided 86 million Euros for construction of 26 road routes through an EBRD loan;

42.     We provided 14 million Euros for reconstruction of 12 road routes through a World Bank loan;

43.     We provided funds from PESR for the reconstruction of 13 road routes;

44.     We provided EUR 42 million from the IPA for construction of the Gradsko-Prilep expressway, Gradsko-Drenovo section;

45.     We provided a grant of € 1.2 million from VBIF for preparation of a project for construction of the highway Skopje-Blace;

46.     We have signed contracts for construction of the expressway Stip-Radovish and the expressway Kriva Palanka-Rankovce;

47.     We modernized the Romanovce pay station and accelerated the modernization of tolls on Corridor 10;

48.     We intensified the construction of the railroad to Bulgaria, section Kumanovo-Beljakovce;

49.     We have provided an EU grant of 70 million Euros for the construction of the railway line to Bulgaria, section Beljakovce-Kriva Palanka;

50.     We have provided 60million Euros from the EU for construction of the railroad to Bulgaria, section Kriva Palanka-Deve Bair;

51.     We completed the project documentation for construction of the railroad to Albania, section Kicevo-Lin, border with Albania;

52.     We signed a contract with a contractor for construction of a railroad to Greece, Bitola-Kremenica;

53.     We launched 10 reconstructed railway stations on Corridor 10;

54.     We increased the salary ratio for the mechanical personnel in MR Transport - which led to salaries increases;

55.     We started 8 projects for construction and reconstruction of water and sewerage network with a loan of 2.5 million euros from the European Investment Bank;

56.     We provided a 5 million Euros grant from KfW for construction of water supply systems in Gevgelija and Kavadarci;

57.     We provided a 4 million Euros grant from SECO (Swiss Agency for Economic Cooperation) for the completion of a water supply system in Gostivar;

58.     We have provided budget funds for communal infrastructure;

59.     We are commencing 20 projects for construction and reconstruction of the sewage and water supply network in the amount of 8.5 million Euros, with an EIB loan;

60.     Upgrading of the water supply network in Gostivar with SECO grant in the amount of 4 million Euros;

61.     Upgrading the water supply network in Kavadarci, Radovish and Gevgelija in the amount of 8 million Euros (5 million Euros grant and 3 million Euros loan);

62.     Completion of the construction of the fecal sewer for the settlement Sopiste and the locality “Sunny City”;

63.     Upgrading of the water supply system - Patishka Reka, municipality of Sopishte in the amount of 2.3 million Euros;

64.     We are completing two residential buildings for social risk persons, one in Kocani with 39 apartments and one in Makedonski Brod with 10 apartments;

65.     We are continuing with the project for construction of residential buildings for social risk persons and in Pehchevo, Sveti Nikole, Vinica, Probishtip and Skopje, we are completing the buildings in Gostivar and Strumica;

66.     We provided financial support for low-cost airlines for introducing new destinations (from Skopje to Malta, Rome, Warsaw and Vekshe - Sweden);

67.     The Skopje-Doha airline and the Ohrid-Istanbul airline have been introduced;

68.     We announced a public call for financial support for low-cost air companies to introduce new destinations for the Macedonian citizens;

69.     We adopted amendments to the Law on Treatment of Illegally Built Objects and continued the deadlines for the legalization of illegally constructed objects;

70.     We reduced the prices of services of the Agency for Real Estate Cadastre to 50%;

71.     We changed the Regulation on the price of construction land owned by the Republic of Macedonia, which reduced the price for the construction land appropriation by direct agreement, intended for construction of student dormitories, student dormitories, elderly people's and singles homes, orphanages for unaccompanied persons homes;

72.     We provided 40million Euros for construction of the Negotino-Bitola and Skopje-Tetovo-Gostivar gas pipelines and for resolving the problems with land expropriation;

73.     There are ongoing preparations for construction of the main gas pipelines, Stip-Negotino, Negotino-Bitola and Skopje-Tetovo-Gostivar;

74.     In 2018 we are starting construction of the following sections of the secondary gas system: Gostivar-Kicevo, Shtip-Hamzali-Strumica-Gevgelija, Sveti Nikole-Veles, Shtip (Vrshakovo)-Kocani-Vinica;

75.     In 2018, we are starting a procedure for connecting the Interconnection between Macedonia and Greece, the Interconnection between Macedonia and Bulgaria and connecting the TPP Negotino with the main gas pipeline;

76.     We provided 8.6 billion MK Denars for direct financial support in the agriculture and rural development - for products with higher added value, for modernizing the agro-sector and for development of the rural areas;

77.     We achieved the highest average purchase price of tobacco from 217 MK Denars per kilogram, whereby securing the highest subsidies to date from 80 MK Denars for first class, 70 MK Denars for the second and 60 MK Denars for third and additional classes, at the satisfaction of 30,000 families and 100,000 citizens who provide their existence from tobacco;

78.     We provided 424 grants to young farmers of 10,000 Euros to start their own agro-business;

79.     We fully restore the personal income tax to all farmers, to whom agriculture is the main activity and have a revenue of up to 1 million MK Denars in the current year, with about 7 million Euros more money remaining for 65 thousand farmers;

80.     We unblocked the payment of subsidies and paid the unpaid subsidies for 2014, 2015 and 2016 - for 2016, we paid 110 million Euros subsidies for 94 thousand farmers;

81.     For subsidies for Programme measures for 2017, we have paid 82 million Euros by now, keeping up the legal deadline for payment to end of June 2018;

82.     We have unblocked the process of estimating and payment of damages from weather disasters for 2016 and 2017;

83.     In 2017, we provided an additional subsidy of 6 MK Denars per kilogram of peaches due to the low purchase price and an additional subsidy of 2 MK Denars per kilogram of watermelons;

84.     With the rebalance for 2017, we secured additional 2 million Euros more for the agricultural sector;

85.     With the amendments to the Programme for Direct Support to Agriculture and the Rural Development Programme 2017, we provided new 10 million Euros for supporting the farmers;

86.     With the amendments to the Programme for Financial Support of Agriculture for 2017 we increased the subsidies for the rice producers to 24.000 MK Denars per hectare with certified material and 18.000 MK Denars per hectare without use of certified material;

87.     We have introduced cheap green oil, by which 5 million Euros remain in the agriculture;

88.     We signed a 4 millio Euros grant Agreement with the German KfW Bank for starting the preparations for the South Vardar Valley project, second phase;

89.     We selected 12 locations to implement the FAO project for consolidation of agricultural land, the implementation of the project has started;

90.     We started a project for Agricultural Cooperatives development (EU), worth 1.8 million Euros;

91.     For the second time, after 8 years, we conducted airborne surveillance throughout the territory of the Republic of Macedonia, which will enable precise control over the areas that farmers register for subsidies;

92.     We increased the financial support for promotion of the domestic companies at foreign fairs (with a total support of 500.000 Euros);

93.     With the Program for Financial Support of Agriculture for 2018, we provide 20 percent higher subsidies for crop production and 10 percent for livestock production, for the category farmers with development potential;

94.     With the Rural Development Program 2018, we allocated 10 million Euros for capital investments in water resources infrastructure (irrigation and dams systems);

95.     We signed the first contracts for the IPARD measure, investments in tangible assets for processing and marketing of agricultural and fishery products;

96.     We have adopted a methodology for assessing the market value of state-owned agricultural land under greenhouses and facilities in the function of agricultural production (thus creating an opportunity for the owners of greenhouses to purchase the land under greenhouses and facilities);

97.     We have created a centralized system with which all regional units of the MAFWE are connected with the Cadastre Agency, for a clear record of all signed contracts for lease of agricultural land, in order to know which land is free;

98.     We have conducted an audit of the process of granting state-owned agricultural land and terminated the irregular contracts for 700 hectares of land;

99.     We have established a working group for systematic changes in the Law on Agricultural Land on the basis of the identified irregularities and taking into account the needs of the farmers. We adopted the Draft Law on Financial Investment Support, where besides foreign and domestic investors, investment in the Diaspora was also taken into consideration as investments of significant interest for the Republic of Macedonia;

100.    We adopted the Draft Law on Financial Investment Support, where besides foreign and domestic investors, investment in the Diaspora was also taken into consideration as investments of significant interest for the Republic of Macedonia;

101.    Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Macedonia and the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the field of energy, for merging of the electricity markets;

102.    We adopted a Draft Energy Law transposing the third set of Directives for the internal electricity and natural gas market, thus closing the open procedures before the Energy Community;

103.    We are preparing a new Law on Energy Efficiency which creates the necessary prerequisites for establishing an Energy Efficiency Fund;

104.    The Law on Financial Investment Support provided support for new employments;

105.    We have created support measures for establishment and promotion of cooperation with suppliers from the Republic of Macedonia;

106.    Special support for investment projects of significant economic interest;

107.    Measures to support the growth of capital investments and revenues;

108.    Positive support measures for purchase of funds from enterprises in difficulty;

109.    Support for increasing market competitiveness;

110.    Incentives for support for conquering markets and increasing sales;

111.    To attract the diaspora in the economic development of the Republic of Macedonia we are offering 10% more funds than the envisaged, up to 1 million Euros;

112.    We have adopted the Small and Medium Enterprises Strategy that encompasses improving the business climate, strengthening competitiveness and investing in human resources and technology;

113.    We provided additional 16 million MK Denars for implementation of measures related to the Program for Competitiveness, Innovation and Entrepreneurship of a total of 12 million that were envisaged for 2017;

114.    For 2018, for this Programme we have provided a total of 48 million MK Denars, out of which 65% of the funds have already been realized;

115.    The Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, upon a proposal by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, ratified the Additional Protocol 5 on trade facilitation within the CEFTA framework, which enables trade facilitation;

116.    Amending and supplementing the Law on Industrial and Green Zones is underway, aimed at making it functional and attractive for investments by enterprises.

117.    The adoption of the Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy is in a Government procedure, through which self-employment of the female population will be stimulated, the skills for doing business will be developed and the role of women in making business decisions will be strengthened;

118.    We are working on amending the Law on Vehicles, which envisages introduction of an ecological sticker and regulation of the taxi transport by issuing yellow plates.

 

REFORMS - FAST AND CORE CHANGES FOR A STATE BY EUROPEAN RULES

119. Strategy for Reform of the Judicial Sector for the period 2017-2022 with an Action Plan has been adopted, through a wide consultation process and regular consultations with the European Commission;

120. A Council has been established to monitor the implementation of the Strategy in the judiciary for the period 2017 - 2022, chaired by the Prime Minister;

121.    Full institutional support for the work of the SLI has been provided, in accordance with the relevant laws;

122.    A working group was established for insight into ACMIS, which is direct proceeding in line with the Priebe Report;

123.    Amnesty Law was prepared and adopted, which resulted in overcoming the situation in the prisons;

124.    Law on Informants was prepared and adopted at the Assembly.

125.    The Council Determining Facts and Initiating a Procedure for Determining Disciplinary Liability of Judges was abolished, and the jurisdiction of the Judicial Council of the Republic of Macedonia was restored;

126.    In accordance with Plan 3-6-9, in the past period, the preparation of the package of laws for introducing an external mechanism, which would introduce control over the police officers, was successfully completed;

127.    The Law on Free Legal Aid, which provides a completely new concept and access to justice, was submitted for government and parliamentary procedure;

128.    A Provision, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Quality of Mediation Activities Board was established in order to enable full implementation of the Law on Mediation;

129.    We have improved the Anti-Discrimination Law aimed at protecting everyone;

130.    We have introduced flexible working hours and two-shifts work of the services of the institutions that issue personal documents, permits, licenses, etc.;

131.    Amendments to the Law on Administrative Officers were proposed and adopted, which simplified the selection and employment procedure, facilitated faster career advancement, and reduced the pressure on employees;

132.    At the beginning of 2018, we adopted a new Public Administration Reform Strategy (2018-2022), through a wide consultative process, with participation of the public sector representatives, as well as non-governmental organizations, chambers and trade unions;

133.    We strengthened the confidence in the police and its image as a protector and friend of the citizens;

134.    We started with the realization of the project “Local Police Officer”;

135.    We have implemented a project for improving the conditions at the police stations;

136.    We provided new uniforms for the police and schoolchildren;

137.    We implemented a reform of the system for communications monitoring;

138.    We strengthened the internal control and started a project to establish an external independent control mechanism;

139.    We are strengthening the capacities for combat against organized crime and corruption.

140.    We started to reform the UBK in order to depoliticize the Office and restore its essential task (intelligence and counterintelligence in the interest of the state);

141.    We are strengthening the capacities for dealing with terrorism and violent radicalism;

142.    We improved the conditions for service and increased the salaries of all staff in the Army by 10%;

143.    We introduced changes of the criteria for admitting cadets to the Military Academy in order to avoid politicization and bias;

144.    We conducted a competition for admission of professional soldiers for the needs of the ARM, which will increase the combat readiness and improve the capacities of the ARM;

145.    We joined the NATO Defence Education Enhancement Programme in order to strengthen our defence educational institutions, primarily the Military Academy;

146. We reduced the expenses for business trips and representations for 7 million denars;

147. We have created a system for reporting gender discrimination and harassment in the ARM;

148. We have conducted training to build the integrity of the top management in the Ministry of Defense;

149. We are developing a new Long-Term Development Plan for the period 2019-2028, as well as a revised Plan for equipment and modernization of the ARM;

150. We organized fair local elections to which citizens freely expressed.

151. We have created a democratic media environment by abolishing government advertising, in order to prevent political influence on the media and propaganda by buying media space by spending citizens' money;

152. We provide a democratic communication service with a unique and equal access to all media, without privileges and exclusions, where the journalist is in the first place and all the questions asked are on time and in quality;

153. We are developing public communications protocols and a public communication strategy, rather than spending millions of euros on government advertisements and propaganda;

154. We organized open debates on amendments to the laws on media, audio and audio-visual media services and the possibilities for supporting printed media;

155. We carry out active transparency by regularly publishing daily rows and minutes from government sessions;

156. We have introduced the practice of publishing and updating 21 documents of public interest by the ministries and other institutions in order to promote the application of the Law on Free Access to Public Information;

`157. In order to increase accountability to citizens, we publish information about the official expenses of ministers, deputy ministers and state secretaries;

158. We declassified all information on business trips, representations and contracts for granting state aid;

159. With the amendments to the Law on Free Access to Public Information, we provided for the free provision of public information to all information users by USB or by e-mail;

160. We provided free services from the Central Register and the Agency for Real Estate Cadastre for Investigative Journalism;

161. We have increased the deadline for commenting on ENER from 10 to 20 days. Every citizen has a greater opportunity to participate in the creation of legal solutions;

162. We started with the creation of an Address Book of CSOs that would enable a fully inclusive and non-selective approach by the institutions in cooperation with CSOs;

163. We have conducted a series of consultative meetings with civil and media organizations on the activities undertaken so far in the framework of the Agenda for Transparency, and all proposals for its promotion have been taken into account when taking future steps.

164. A National ICT Council has been established, which currently conducts an assessment of the IT infrastructure / employment of IT staff in the administration (in all 1299 institutions).

 

WE CARE - QUALITY SERVICES CLOSE TO YOU

165. We have drafted the Law on redundant workers, whose adoption approves the life issue of about 5,000 redundant workers;

166. With the Youth Guarantee we increase the scope and inclusion of young unemployed persons on the labor market (pilot phase in three municipalities - Skopje, Gostivar and Strumica);

167. We have introduced measures for the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities by amending the Law on Social Protection;

168. For the first time, we have adopted a personal assistance program for persons with disabilities, fully funded by the Budget;

169. We have adopted a program for the elimination of health participation for children from families-beneficiaries of social assistance;

170. We provided capital investment in social protection: a daycare center for people with Down syndrome; for expanding the capacities and improving the conditions of the day center for autism in the Institute for Rehabilitation of Children and Youth - Topansko Pole, for the center for persons with cerebral palsy, for additional 3 new daycare centers in Makedonska Kamenica, Veles, Makedonski Brod;

171. We provided funds for new 138 jobs in the centers for social work.

172. A specialized team has been established for dealing with emergency cases from vulnerable categories within the PI Inter-municipal Center for Social Work of the City of Skopje;

173. Three new regional lodgings for homeless people in Bitola, Struga and Strumica have been opened, and the capacities of the existing center “Momin Potok” in Skopje have been expanded;

174. We have enabled the persons who, because of the received money after a quick transfer, have lost the right to social assistance, to be able to apply again;

175. We reconstructed the 30 centers for social work that serve more than 200 thousand citizens in social risk;

176. We implement deinstitutionalization - a minimum of 12 new small group homes (for transformation of institutions for care of children with educational problems as May 25, Demir Kapija and Banja Bansko);

177. We solve the problem of about 3000 persons not registered in the Birth Register - a call from the Directorate for Registration of Birth registries was announced for reporting persons who are not registered in the Birth Register;

178. We opened kindergartens in Vrapciste and Staro Nagoricane, the facilities in Zrnovce, Prilep, Chashka, Karaslari - Veles will soon be operational, and the procedures for kindergartens in Mavrovo Rostuse, Preljubiste, Kumanovo and Kavadarci are completed. In the course of 2018, adequate space for preschools will be built or adapted in Krivogastani, Cheshinovo - Obleshevo, Cucer Sandevo, Gorobinci, Kravari-Bitola, Marena-Kavadarci, Konce, Valandovo, Probishtip, but also in other places throughout the country which municipalities will prepare appropriate projects;

179. We have introduced second shift work at kindergartens;

180. We freed single parents from the payment of fees in kindergartens;

181. We have ratified the Istanbul Convention and strengthened the fight to eradicate violence against women and domestic violence;

182. We are preparing a new law on social protection that will provide the basis for introducing a minimum of adequate income;

183. We provided funds for the harmonization of pensions according to the cost of living and for 2018;

184. We are analyzing the introduction of state social pension for persons over 65 years of age, do not fulfill the conditions for old-age pension and do not have any other income;

185. The software for payment of subsidies and for applying for subsidies for 2017 has been unblocked;

186. One day, 25 million euros were paid for subsidies for tobacco from the 2016 harvest and about 2.3 million euros for subsidies for bee families;

187. One day, 22 million euros or about 80 percent of tobacco subsidies from the 2017 harvest for 20,880 tobacco farmers were paid. Additionally, another 3.9 million Euros were paid, bringing the total amount paid to 26 million euros for 24,708 tobacco growers;

188. For the first time in May, the realization of the payment of subsidies for the measures from the Program for Financial Support of Agriculture 2017 is 6 billion MKD. We are moving with dynamics that guarantee timely payment in the legal deadline, by June 30th;

189. Before the start of the new production harvest, the growers received subsidies for maintaining vineyards, over 600 million denars were paid on this basis;

190. 15 million Euros were provided through IPA 2019 for financing in the agriculture sector;

191. The signing of contracts for implementation of investments through IPARD 2 started, so far 88 agreements with total investment value of over 5.3 million Euros have been signed;

192. By amending the Law on Agricultural Land, we release young people from paying rent in the first 3 years; additional benefits also have young farmers through the Program for Direct Payments 2018;

193. Amendments to the Law on Agriculture and Rural Development, which includes the measure for cheap green oil, were adopted, with EUR 5 million remaining in agriculture;

194. To receive subsidies, the condition of borrowers for the Japanese assistance and towards the PRO is postponed;

195. With the amendments to the Laws on Hunting and Fisheries and Aquaculture, the e-passage of the hunting exam and examinations in the field of fisheries have been abolished, thus completely simplifying and accelerating the whole procedure for taking the exams;

196. Law on Consolidation of Agricultural Land was passed at first reading of the Commission and plenary session in the Assembly;

197. With the announcements for granting state-owned agricultural land for lease that were announced in 2018, 26 contracts were signed to three hectares with a total area of ​​about 47 hectares, and for the announcement of more than 3 hectares, 16 contracts are expected to be concluded with a total area of about 342 hectares;

198. Public call for contractor for the system for irrigation of the southern valley of Vardar phase 2 has been announced, for which a grant of EUR 4 million was received from the German bank “KfW” MAFWE;

199. The implementation of the project with the EU for ecological irrigation systems has begun, for which 8 locations have already been selected, and 3 have already been designed for which € 3.2 million have been provided;

200. Consko dam is constructed;

201. Construction of the Rechani Dam;

202. Construction of irrigation system Raven Rechica;

203. Preparation of technical documentation for the dam Slupchane River;

204. The rehabilitation of dam Pishitsa ends;

205. Construction of a system for irrigation of the hydro-system Zletovica, second and third phase;

206. The Law on the Advisory System is in the government procedure, (better advisory services for farmers);

207. The Law on Plant Protection Products (reduced use of pesticides, and greater use of agrotechnical measures in order to protect the health of citizens) is in the phase of adoption;

208. A new Law on Tobacco and Tobacco Products is being prepared in the interest of tobacco producers;

209. The announcement for granting state-owned agricultural land on lease over 3 hectares for the land of the former agro-plant “Dzumajlija” is published and is in progress, with 907 hectares of fruit land divided into 10 blocks, with facilitated conditions;

210. A targeted advertisement for the provision of state-owned agricultural land for livestock farmers is being prepared, since domestic production of feed is the cheapest;

211. 11,000 hectares of land were released, completely clean and formed into blocks for more serious investment and attracting foreign investment;

212. A call is being made for the purchase of agricultural land under agricultural objects, that is, greenhouses, auxiliary facilities and facilities for primary processing of agricultural products;

213. A functional analysis of the position of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy and the bodies within the Ministry is underway in order to effectively implement the policies and services of the citizens;

214. Accreditation of new measures for the IPARD Program (LEADER, rural infrastructure and advisory services);

215. Solutions for Local Action Groups issued;

216. We have adopted the “National Strategy for Nature Conservation (2017-2027)” and “National Strategy for Biodiversity (2018-2023)”;

217. In November 2017, the implementation of the IPA Twinning Project “Strengthening the capacities for the effective implementation of EU legislation in the field of nature protection” started;

218. On 12 July 2017, the EU / UNDP project started: “Improving protected area management”;

219. The second phase of the Nature Conservation Program in Macedonia, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), started to be implemented;

220. In November 2017, the project Protecting and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Prespa, Ohrid and Skadar Lake (CSBL) was completed;

221. Negotiations on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Initiative for the establishment of the Nature Fund Prespa-Ohrid (PONT);

222. In the part of the valorization of the natural heritage, the Study for Valorization of Natural Values ​​of Shar Planina was continued, as well as other natural rarities;

223. The Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia ratified the Treaty of Paris in November 2017, reaffirming its commitment to join the global efforts to reduce climate change, and also adopted the Second Biennial Climate Change Report containing the latest data and emission analyzes and GHG absorption (s);

224. In the past ten months, the overall planning documentation for 7 of the eight planning regions in the Republic of Macedonia for the establishment of an integrated regional waste management system was adopted, and a political agreement was reached between the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and the Local Self-Government for the establishment of the said system;

225. An Intersectoral Working Group on Air has been established, a vehicle has been provided for the maintenance of monitoring stations and a mobile station for the quality of ambient air;

226. A Swiss-funded project, implemented by UNDP, “Reducing flood risk in the Polog region”, started. The project is implemented in the next four years (from November 2017 to December 2021);

227. Construction of part of the water supply system for the Municipality of Lipkovo in the amount of 138 million denars, secured from the budget of the Republic of Macedonia;

228. Construction of a part of the fecal sewerage for the Municipality of Aracinovo in the amount of 35 million denars, secured from the budget of the Republic of Macedonia;

229. Construction of a main fecal and secondary collector in the Municipality of Kocani in the amount of 90 million denars, secured from the budget of the Republic of Macedonia, as well as construction of wastewater treatment plant financed by the Swiss Government in the amount of 1 billion denars;

230. In March 2018 a wastewater treatment plant in the Municipality of Kicevo was put into operation, for 48,000 equivalent inhabitants and 4.7km collector for draining wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant. The total value of the project is 8,254,355 euros;

231. On December 18, 2017, a treatment plant for the treatment of urban wastewater in Strumica was put into operation, with a capacity of 53,000 equivalent inhabitants. The total value of the project is 6,910,876 euros;

232. In December 2017, the project Rehabilitation and extension of the sewerage network in the Municipality of Berovo was completed. The total value of the project is 3,863,186 euros;

233. In December 2017, the project Rehabilitation and Extension of the sewerage network in Kumanovo was completed. The total value of the project is 4,323,224.55 euros;

234. In February 2018, the project “Improvement of Wastewater Infrastructure in the City of Skopje” started with the realization. The project is at an approximate value of 10 million euros;

235. We have increased the annual funds for balanced regional development from 4 to 80 million Euros, with transparent mechanisms for an even distribution of funds of 1% of GDP (by planning regions and municipalities) in order to stimulate local economic development and reduce regional differences;

236. The funds for balanced regional development in the Budget of the Republic of Macedonia for 2018 are in the amount of 328,873,000 denars, which is an increase of 101 million denars compared to 2017, when for this purpose were determined 227,691,000 denars;

237. We are implementing the project “Sustainable and Inclusive Balanced Regional Development” in cooperation with the Government of Switzerland, which for its implementation donates 2,539,997 CHF for the period 2017-2020, while funds from the Budget of the Ministry of Local Self-Government are co-financed in amount from CHF 1,269,440 for the same period;

238. We started with the implementation of the project Improving Municipal Management, funded by the European Union worth 2.3 million euros (the project is implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP);

239. We are preparing amendments and supplements to the Program for Sustainable Development and Decentralization 2015-2020, as well as a new Action Plan for the period 2018-2020;

240. A working group comprised of representatives from the relevant ministries and ZELS is working on redefining the manner and criteria for allocation of the categorical and block grants to the municipalities in order to provide a predictable and transparent allocation of the funds intended for providing the functions of elementary and high schools, kindergartens, public homes for care of the elderly and the local institutions in the field of culture;

241. We organized a holiday for 3000 families of low-income workers whose income does not exceed 22 thousand denars in a family, through a subsidy worth 15 thousand denars for the use of vacations, off season in one of the categorized catering facilities for accommodation in the Republic of Macedonia;

242. We halved the inherited debts for student dormitories;

243. A new Law on Higher Education, which restores the autonomy of universities and a prerequisite for raising the quality of education, has been drafted and amendments to the Laws on Primary and Secondary Education are being prepared;

244. The Law on Mathematical Information High School has been prepared, which will enable the establishment and functioning of the first Mathematical-Information Gymnasium for talented students;

245. We started with the revision of the education system and curricula and plans for primary education from 1-3 grade;

246. We started with the revision of textbooks in primary education, which ultimately aims to provide quality textbooks for students, free from discrimination, prejudice and mistakes;

247. We started with the reform of the secondary vocational education, in the direction of harmonizing the professional staff that arises from the schools with the needs of the labor market, as well as improving the learning environment and the quality of vocational education and training;

248. We have prepared a new Education Strategy 2018-2025 that is based on a clear identification of the main challenges in education and defining the priorities that we will focus on as a government in the following period;

249. We revised the list of primary school education books for which a proposal was submitted and a public debate is under way;

250. By reducing the prices of 50 percent of prescription drugs, this spring saves 2.381.600 Euros of money for the citizens;

251. The projections of economic growth, the consolidation of the budget inflows, will enable us to realize the measure for the release from the co-payment for hospital treatment for all citizens;

252. A new Committee for immunization in extended composition has been established and for the first time we have purchased vaccines against seasonal influenza vaccination free for the elderly;

253. In the Public Health Program 2018, preventive examinations by a physician for early diagnosis of spinal deformity in school-age children have been introduced;

254. As of 2018, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and the Ministry of Health fully took over the obligation to fully fund the National HIV Program, which has been co-financed by the Global Fund;

255. Modernization of the Immunization Calendar by replacing two existing vaccines and introducing vaccination against streptococcus pneumonia and vaccination against oral viruses as mandatory vaccines, thereby protecting children from severe diseases with complications caused by these causes;

256. We have brought a protocol for the treatment of children addicted to psychoactive substances.

257. The establishment of a National Coordinating Body (Crisis Staff) is in the process of the task of coordinating, proposing measures and monitoring the implementation of these, in the event of emergency, crisis situations and disasters in the field of health;

258. By amending the Law on Medical Studies and Continuing Medical Education, we have abolished the obligation of the Ministry of Health to prepare an annual plan for education of 1000 people abroad, with which the obligation is now at the public health institutions according to the needs;

259. The third announcement for co-financed specializations has been implemented and 12 co-funded gynecology and obstetrics specialties have been launched with a view to providing gynecologists in areas where they are absent;

260. A new National Commission for Rare Diseases has been established with experts from all the University Clinics where patients with rare diseases are being treated and a procedure for public procurement of all needs for rare diseases is under way, for which 400,000,000.00 denars;

261. The Ministry of Health decided to reduce the number of directors, which, on annual basis, only for the salaries of the organizational directors in 40 healthcare institutions, a significant reduction in the total costs is expected;

262. In the budget of the Ministry of Health for 2018, a total of 221.000.000 denars is provided for the procurement of medical equipment for the needs of the PHI;

263. We provide a hybrid hall in which a combination of endoscopic and open surgery will be applied or vice versa;

264. In the 2018 budget, we procure mammograms for PHI ZD Skopje, OB Kumanovo, ZD Kriva Palanka and KB Bitola;

265. A memorandum was signed between the governments of Macedonia and Bulgaria to reduce the international roaming tariffs in telecommunication services;

266. New 125 professional soldiers in the ARM were admitted;

267. Through a wide consultative process, we developed a Strategy for Cultural Development for the next 5 years (2018-2022) and an Action Plan (2018-2022), which were adopted by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia;

268. We have prepared legal amendments that solve significant problems and we are leading systemic care for sustainability and development in culture and art in the long run;

269. Through the contest for the New Cultural Wave”, we managed to motivate the organization of more than 100 cultural and artistic events in the country and to revive the independent cultural scene;

270. We opened the doors of cultural institutions and the Ministry of Culture for cooperation with the civil sector and the independent cultural scene;

271. We achieved great success on the international cultural scene - we opened the Center for Cultural Cooperation of the “16 + 1” Initiative for cooperation between the countries of Southeast Europe and the People's Republic of China;

272. We have undertaken emergency interventions in Chifte Amam, Daut Pashin Amam and the Museum of Macedonia for the protection of the neglected precious cultural heritage of torrential rains;

273. We have initiated a process for the protection of the Strumica fresco “St. 15 Tiberiopolis Martyrs”, one of the oldest in our region, for years left at the mercy of the weather;

274. We started intensive activities for the protection of the church “St. Gjorgji “in Kurbinovo;

275. In 2018, we conduct an audit and deletion from the register of all unlawfully registered monuments and objects from the so-called. project “Skopje 2014”, which by their nature can not represent a cultural heritage;

276. The Government adopted a decision with a package of 11 measures for the promotion of the Macedonian language;

277. Legislative changes in the Law on the use of the Macedonian language were prepared and adopted;

278. The Commission for conducting the exam for the lecturer was selected, as well as other actions that unblocked the process of taking the exam;

279. We have provided free access to the Spelling of the Macedonian language, which was published on the web site of the National Library “St. Kliment Ohridski “- Skopje;

280. We provided funds for quality organization of the Macedonian Language Seminar;

281. We have provided better conditions for the protection and promotion of the Macedonian language in public communication;

282. We begin with thorough reforms and advancement of the workers' rights of artists and cultural workers through the preparation of the collective agreement for the employees in the culture;

283. We reform the system of financing of the National Institutions, in order to receive a reserved budget, on the basis of a strategic plan for a period of three years;

284. Tender procedures have been conducted in several national institutions, reconstruction of roofs in several theaters and cultural centers have begun in the country;

285. The findings of the elaborate of the working group of the Ministry of Culture on the monument of A.J. Kjoseto were carried out by the competent authorities and the illegal monument was removed;

286. Several elaborates for buildings and monuments from the so-called Project “Skopje 2014” have been prepared;

287. We have conducted a public debate on the MRT revitalization initiative, which was accepted by acclamation by all music workers in the country. The Government adopted the conclusion that obliges the competent ministries and institutions to continue the implementation of this process;

288. With the timely payment of the debts for the construction of the Macedonian Philharmonic, we prevented penalties from hundreds of thousands of euros and we received a valuable donation - top piano Stanwey worth 170 thousand euros from the company Straubag;

289. We helped to overcome the lack of space and resources, and we managed to hold this year's 30th jubilee edition Book Fair with free visits for college students and high school students without any disruption;

290.    Неколку научни и културни установи реализираа проекти за дигитализација на нашето музичко и литературно творештво;

291. A letter of intentions for the reconstruction of the Universal Hall has been signed with the City of Skopje, the preparations for the documentation begin; the construction will begin in 2019;

292. We promoted the significant paleontological discovery - the fossil remnants of the extinct species of elephants in Dolni Disan, which attracted the attention of several important world media (Daily Mail, Chicago Tribune, Business Insider, etc...);

293. With the Penitentiary Correction Facility “Prison Skopje”, we signed a memorandum of cooperation, addressing the recommendations of the CPT of the Council of Europe and envisaging activities for the promotion of cultural and artistic content for prisoners as one of the most vulnerable categories of citizens;

294. Macedonia became a formal member of TRADUKI. At the first meeting of the network where we participate as a full member, funds for new projects of Macedonian publishers have already been provided;

295. In Davos, the declaration of Baukultur was signed - a culture of construction;

296. Significant presence of Macedonian artists in Plovdiv has been agreed upon, which will be the cultural capital of Europe for 2019;

297. Macedonia has an excellent project at the Biennale of Architecture in Venice, with visions to deal with the heritage of Skopje 2014.

 

MACEDONIA - ONE SOCIETY AND ONE FAMILY FOR ALL, ALL CITIZENS FROM FIRST ROW

298. With the policy of “One Society” we reduced the divisions and increased trust among the communities;

299. We have improved the climate for cooperation and involvement of civil society as a partner in the democratization of society;

300. We have adopted the Law on the Use of Languages, which will extend the use of the official language spoken by at least 20% of the citizens, in accordance with the Constitution and Amendment V, and we have increased the opportunities for the citizens to communicate with the state institutions in their mother tongue and thus to exercise their constitutional rights more easily and effectively;

301. The Law on the Use of Languages ​​is fully guaranteed by the appropriate use of the Macedonian language, but also in other languages ​​that are in official use in certain local self-government units (Albanian, Turkish, Roma, Serbian, Vlach and Bosniak);

302. We have undertaken a series of measures for the protection of the cultural heritage of the Republic of Macedonia and for the protection and promotion of the Macedonian language;

303. We have issued an electronic version of the Spelling of the Macedonian language, a free version, for the first time available to everyone;

304. The Macedonian Language Fund will support the opening of new and the maintenance of Macedonian language teachers at foreign universities in the EU, especially the EU founding countries, as well as in the United States, Canada, Australia and the Russian Federation;

305. We have enabled the Seminar on Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture to grow into a Macedonian Center “Makedonikum” through which many foreigners will be awarded scholarships to learn the Macedonian language, our literature and culture;

306. The measures for the improvement of the situation with the Macedonian language envisage the establishment of a Fund for supporting the publishing activity of new and re-issuing of scientific works dedicated to the Macedonian language in all areas;

307. The measures should result in the establishment of a fund for scholarships for studying in the Macedonian language at the universities in the Republic of Macedonia and revision of the curricula in Macedonian language at all levels of education;

308. Removing the danger of the Ohrid region losing the UNESCO World Heritage status;

309. We protected the gallery of icons in the Museum of Macedonia;

310. We took action for the complete protection and conservation of the Skopje Aqueduct and the creation of a pleasant ambience with several accompanying recreational and cultural contents;

311. On the occasion of the celebration of the 109th anniversary of the Albanian Alphabet in Bitola, various activities were realized (opening of an art colony, opening of the Scientific Tribune and Gala Concert);

312. The Government of the Republic of Macedonia approved the information on the establishment of the Albanian State Ensemble;

313. The plan for the allocation of 958 out of 1600 administrative officers employed in the SSDS was adopted in the Government;

314. The need for a conciliatory opinion and a finding of at least 3 doctors for the exercise of the right to financial compensation for assistance and care by another person has ceased;

315. The right to a financial allowance for assistance and care by another person, the allowance for mobility, blindness and deafness are exercised regardless of the amount of income of the person in need;

316. The allowance for part-time work for parents of children and persons with disabilities is exercised regardless of the age of the person;

317. The right to a special allowance up to 26 years automatically transfers to the right to assistance and care from another person;

318. By legislative changes, the part-time working hours for parents of children with disabilities continue to exist after 26 years;

319. For the first time, the Program for Personal Assistance to Persons with Disabilities was adopted, fully financed by the Budget;

320. We have adopted a program for the release from health care for children from families-beneficiaries of social assistance;

321. We supported the establishment of a Day Center for Persons with Down Syndrome;                                                                          

322. Established a specialized team for dealing with emergency cases from vulnerable categories within the PI Inter-municipal Center for Social Work of the City of Skopje;

323. We have solved the problem of about 3,000 people not registered in the Birth Register;

324. We approached the drafting of the National Strategy for Cooperation with the Diaspora;

325. Opening offices for cooperation with the diaspora in the municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia. The first office opens in the Municipality of Stip.

 

STEP TO NATO AND THE EU, WE SOLVE DISPUTES, CREATE IDENTITY

326. The Government of the Republic of Macedonia continues to speak with the Government of the Greece for a definitive solution to the 25-year-old dispute;

327. We have never been closer to a solution, and the friendship between the two countries and the two peoples has never been greater;

328. The Macedonian language is confirmed. Our Macedonian identity is strengthened;

329. The citizens will confirm the final vote for confirmation of the draft decision in a referendum;

330. Macedonia, after settling the name dispute, will immediately become a NATO member and will thus open the EU gates more quickly and positively and ensure prosperity, a stable and good life for our people;

331. We have provided for a 15% larger defense budget for a modern and motivated Army;

332. With the new Enlargement Strategy, the European Commission confirmed the European future of the Republic of Macedonia as part of the political structure of the European Union and recommended that the European Council set a date for launching EU membership negotiations;

333. After the signing of the friendship agreement with Bulgaria, the trade between the two countries grew by 11.5%;

334. We have realized a huge number of working visits abroad by representatives of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia;

335. Minister Shekerinska meets with US Secretary of Defense Mattis. This is the first meeting of the Macedonian Defense Minister with his American counterpart after 6 years;

336. The strategic defense review is in the final stage, in accordance with NATO standards. This is the first strategic document in the defense after 2004;

337. In May, bilateral consultations were held with NATO and a new Package of Partnership Goals - PC 2018 for the Republic of Macedonia was adopted;

338. We have taken measures to systematically deal with the problems in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by establishing a system that will in principle overcome the injustices, inconsistencies and omissions in all areas of operation;

339. A functional analysis in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been made and reforms are being carried out with the assistance of foreign experts, as a pilot project carried out within the framework of the MISA's Public Administration Reform Project;

340. We organized and conducted trainings for acquiring a higher diplomatic rank (for secretarial titles);

341. We have conducted a regular procedure for the election of diplomats to fill 24 seats in the DCO (16 for senior and 8 for secretary diplomatic titles);

342. We have established several commissions to determine the factual situation and possible abuses in many areas of the MFA and DCM's operations;

343. We have provided a grant from the Kingdom of Norway for a project for developing a system for processing classified information in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

344. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs projected and secured a budget for 2018 for remediation of buildings at the Embassies in Berlin and Rome, the preparation of project documentation for the construction of an object in Athens is under way;

345. With the support of the EU funds, a Treaty was signed by the EU for two new IPA projects in the area of ​​”Consumer Protection” and “Market Surveillance”;

346. An agreement is signed by the EU Directorate for the project “Technical support for development policy of consumer protection”, where the end user is the Ministry of Economy (Department for Internal Market) with the support of the IPA fund;

347. Agreement with Directorate for Enlargement of the EU for the project “Harmonization of the legal framework and capacity building for market surveillance in relation to Chapter 1” is signed.

348. In the area of ​​tourism, an IPA project is being realized with Centralized access and it is run by the World Bank where the Ministry of Economy through the Department for European Integration and the Department of Tourism are the initiators of this project;

349. EU IPA funds enabled the signing of four agreements with four municipalities (projects for tourism development) and with the Municipality of Vevchani, Chair, Bosilovo and Municipality of Krushevo from the first call;

350. On 16.03.2018 year it was published the second applications call for the other interested municipalities, NGOs and the private sector, worth 14 million euros in the form of a grant from IPA funds;

351. Preparations for the transition to the second stage of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) began, through informing the government and line ministries about new realities, opportunities and obligations that will arise with the transition to the second stage of the Stabilization and Association Agreement;

352. IPA prepared a special master plan aimed at enhanced monitoring and coordination of activities aimed at promoting the use of IPA funds;

353. SEA made an analysis and recommendations the chairmanship of the sectoral working groups to be by ministers from relevant ministries. In the period from February to May 2018, the ministers took over this function and organized two meetings in the sectors of agriculture and rural development, education, employment and social policy and the Competitiveness and Innovation for the current programming of about 50 million euros in 2019;

354. In the past period, meetings of the Joint Monitoring Committee and three meetings of the Sectoral Monitoring Committees for Justice and Home Affairs and Competitiveness, innovation, agriculture, food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy and IPARD were held. The importance of these forums arose from the monitoring the efficiency and effectiveness in the use of EU aid

355. Through the Instrument for investment framework for the Western Balkans in the past year it has been received a grant aid totaling 71.3 million euros to build a second phase of building the railroad to Bulgaria and preparation of technical documentation for Highway connection of the section Skopje-Blace;

356. After 6-years of absence, Sweden has returned as bilateral donor in the country with an annual allocation of development funds of about 3 million euros for Macedonia;

357. Norway announced an increase in development funds for the Republic of Macedonia in 2018, and in the forthcoming period is expected to be signed a memorandum on bilateral project cooperation between the two countries;

358. French Agency for Development Cooperation will seek a mandate from the French government for the establishing a development cooperation with Republic of Macedonia;

359. Continuously it is promoting the developmental cooperation with all active donors in Macedonia;

360. The Commission's report has shown great progress of Republic of Macedonia in a number of areas, especially when the evaluation will be made in proportion to the scores they received from the other Western Balkan countries.

361. Macedonia is on the first place according the progress between the countries in the region. This is the largest valorization of the successfulness in implementation of the Plan 3-6-9;

362. EC report ascertain that Macedonia is leading the Western Balkans countries as well as form the aspect of preparedness or compliance of the country with the European Union and according to economic criteria;

363. Republic of Macedonia in May, 2018, became a full member of the Adriatic-Ionian group of countries for collaboration;

364. SEA takes over the role of coordination of the implementation of the six initiatives that resulted from the annex of the European Commission Strategy for expending with the Western Balkans countries by 2025;

365. It was formed the informal group of Macedonia’s friends,  named “Ohrid” composed of:  Lord George Robertson, the former Secretary General of NATO, Rosen Plevneliev, former President of Bulgaria, Javier Solana, former Secretary General of NATO and EU Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Carl Bildt – former Prime Minister of Sweden, Lord Christopher Gaidt, Ambassadors Robert Gelbard from USA, Alain Le Roy from France and Wolfgang Ischinger from Germany, Damon Wilson of the Atlantic Council and Zoran Chichak, which provides support for the integration process of the Republic of Macedonia in NATO and the EU, to be successfully completed.