MPs began Monday a debate on the motion for constitutional changes submitted by the Government.

The Government proposes changes in Article 4, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution, over the possibility for handing over Macedonian citizens to other countries, in line with an international treaty, and vice versa, for crime acts in the field of organized crime, individuals abusing dual citizenship or ones who avoided penal responsibility.

"This change in the Constitution is beneficial for all citizens, except for those who have perpetrated crimes. All those committing a crime must be taken responsible and should not obtain any property benefit from a perpetrated crime, whereas dual citizenship cannot represent a dam to avoid penal responsibility", said Justice Minister Mihajlo Manevski while elaborating the motion.

According to him, the changes stipulate a possibility for handover of Macedonian nationals to other countries in line with an international treaty and vice versa, for crimes in the field of organized crime, individuals abusing dual citizenship or ones who avoided penal responsibility.

"This will prevent a person who has perpetrated a crime from avoiding penal responsibility or executing the sanction by using dual citizenship. This conduct is unacceptable, since a person committing a crime in a certain region can withdraw in another country that will protect him/her from responsibility for the crime", added Manevski.

He said the constitutional changes would also enable the application of the European arrest warrant.

The draft-amendments used the Croatian experience, but also standards from all international conventions in this field.

Minister Manevski underlined the changes would strengthen the capacities in dealing with organized crime and corruption, which has serious regional and international implications.