2014 is behind us, 2015 is upon us. 2014 was a year of many challenges, problems, but successes as well. We enthusiastically enter 2015, with thought of a better and happier life. Everyone has the right to fight for a better life, happier days, less problems and more successes, says Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski in his New Year’s address.
– In 2015, we expect the construction of the pipeline network from Kumanovo to Shtip to begin and to provide conditions for the remaining primary pipeline throughout Macedonia. The secondary gasification in Skopje and the Skopje region, with an investment of 100 million euros, as well as the secondary gasification in Eastern and Western Macedonia, are also part of the plans for 2015. The focus will remain on finding alternative sources for providing larger amounts of gas to Macedonia. As in 2014, in 2015 as well, we will continue with the promised increase in pensions, welfare and public sector salaries. As in 2014, in 2015 as well, we will continue with the policy for supporting agriculture and the Macedonian villages with new 150 million euros for subsidies and rural development – said Gruevski.
The second major reform is associated with higher education, emphasized Gruevski, something that is very popular these days.
– It provides that, starting 2018, every professor will have to publish at least two papers in five years in reputable international journals with impact factor, which are published on Thomson Reuters’ list, “Web of Science”. This caused anxiety among part of the Macedonian professors, which resulted in protests, but Macedonia need quality professors and advanced scientists who won’t measure their quality only locally, with each other, through the columns in newspapers and discussing politics, but internationally, with their colleagues from all advanced countries. This would violate their commodity in the short run, but all will benefit on a long run – said Gruevski.
Amendments to the Constitution will follow in 2015, said Gruevski, and the entry into force of a completely new legislation in the sector of state and public administration, which will radically change some conditions and problems in that part and which will give new enthusiasm and new opportunities to the employees in the administration. There will also be a package of major changes in the judiciary laws, which should create more efficient and more righteous judiciary.
