Skopje, 2 December 2011 (MIA) –

What constitutional reforms does a country need to make prior to joining the European Union and to harmonise its judiciary with Europe's is the main topic of a regional conference held in Skopje on Friday entitled "EU Membership - Constitutional Challenges of SEE Candidate Countries."

Vice PM for EU Affairs, Teuta Arifi speaking about government's activities conducted in the past three months in connection to EU integration, pointed out the action plan that addressed remarks of this year's European Commission progress report regarding four key issues - reforms in judiciary, state administration, anti-corruption measures and freedom of speech. She associated constitutional changes with judicial reforms i.e. building of an independent judicial system in a bid to strengthen the capacities of the Academy of Judges and Public Prosecutors, the Administrative Court and the Public Prosecutor's Office. Moreover, she reiterated expectations on obtaining a date for membership talks.

"I think that December is a crucial month for Western Balkan countries. This December the EU will send messages to the Western Balkan whether it is interested to resume its enlargement process with countries from the region. I would like to hope that Macedonia will be mentioned in these messages, that there will be a concrete message for start of EU negotiations," Arifi stressed. 

Robert Liddell, acting head of the EU Delegation to Skopje, in his address said the Constitution was a living substance which needed to be adapted in relation to EU integration - EU treaties, regulations and laws.

"The accession process is real and tangible covering many countries... EU integration can be successful only with a joint EU framework and this is the only way for the Union to function successfully," Liddell said.

The regional conference "EU Membership - Constitutional Challenges of SEE Candidate Countries" was organised by ZENIT association in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.