The new leader of North Macedonia’s Social Democrats and prime minister-designate Dimitar Kovacevski submitted on Tuesday to the Assembly the names of his new cabinet as well as the government program.

Overcoming an economic and energy crisis were listed as the top priorities of his government, vowing to push forward the ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Eighth corridor linking the country to Albania.

The European Union remains a strategic objective for North Macedonia’s new government, while Kovacevski is expected to follow up on the same policies favoring the “Open Balkan” initiative.

“The European Union is our strategic objective and we deserve to have accession negotiations launched with the EU, as a result of fourth consecutive positive reports from the EU Commission. The Open Balkan has also been included in the government agenda because I believe that regional cooperation, based on European values and the four freedoms of the EU, must be represented and we will continue in that direction”, said Kovacevski.

The new government is set to continue the dialogue with Bulgaria in an effort to lift the veto against the country’s accession to the EU but at the same time “preserve the dignity of the people from both countries”.

“We have also addressed the issue with Bulgaria, where through future-oriented dialogue, towards projects for the connection of citizens, economies, and culture, we will reach a common solution based on European values ​​and preserve the dignity of citizens from both countries,” said Kovacevski.

The new government of North Macedonia will have 10 ethnic Albanian ministers, 6 from BDI, 1 from the Alternative, and 1 from SDSM.