13/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Howitt becomes rapporteur on Macedonia. Richard Howitt (S&D, UK) is the new European Parliament rapporteur on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which has been a candidate for accession to the EU since 2005. The appointment of Howitt, who is S&D Group spokesman on human rights, was announced on Wednesday 11 May. In a statement, Howitt repeated the Parliament's commitment to opening negotiations on the country's accession to the EU. (Gp/transl.rt)