Brussels, 25/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 24 January, MEPs on the foreign affairs committee repeated their call to the Council to set a date for accession negotiations to begin as soon as possible with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The Committee adopted the report by Richard Howitt (S&D) and called for further steps to be taken in the process to integrate the country into the EU, such as the “immediate” launch of the first phase for aligning the country's legislation on the Union acquis and implementation of the second phase of the stabilisation and association agreement, currently under consideration.
MEPs urged FYROM and Greece to use the International Court of Justice's ruling on 5 December with regard to the dispute over the name of the country, as a starting point, in an effort to stimulate dialogue and find a solution that is acceptable to all. MEPs underlined their “deep” regret that this dispute is blocking the country's path to EU accession.
MEPs welcomed the reforms adopted by the country, particularly in the legal and administrative fields but called for further efforts to be made.
A Council to assess progress
On Monday 23 January, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) Council between the EU and FYROM met in Brussels to assess progress made in the country and to announce the launch next spring of a high-level dialogue with a view to the country's joining the EU. This initiative was launched in an effort to provide a new impetus to the EU/FYROM relationship, emphasised Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle. The Commissioner added that this dialogue would also help to enhance cooperation in five priority action areas: freedom of expression, rule of law, public administration reform, the election process and the fight against corruption.
The EU congratulated the country on its determination to assume the additional obligations included in the second phase of the SAA. The Council highlighted the reforms put in place in many domains, such as political and legal reform, the progress accomplished towards meeting the economic criteria and the necessity of having a functioning market economy, as well as the progress made in terms of the country's alignment on the Community acquis.
Füle also emphasised the government's national programme for adopting the acquis. He said that, “for the first time, there is a more systematic approach. This covers questions that can be quite easily listed, as well as the questions and political criteria of Copenhagen, which create better conditions for the entire government to be able to use this programme as a basis for its action”.
Macedonian Foreign Affairs Minister Nikola Poposki explained that his government would put the additional measures into place, particularly with regard to the judiciary, public administration, the fight against corruption, the economy and media, areas in which the country still has to make further progress. He promised that the country would energetically pursue this agenda. (CG/transl.fl)