Brussels, 01/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 1 March, while visiting the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) - see EUROPE 10796 - Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle, European Parliament rapporteur Richard Howitt (S&D, United Kingdom), and former president of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek welcomed the agreement that was reached the same day among FYROM's political leaders. “We are pleased to see that the political leaders have finally been able to show their political responsibility and courage to agree on a solution which should bring the country back to the resumption of normal functioning of the political institutions and continuing constructive work on its Euro-Atlantic priorities for the ultimate benefit of the country and its people”, they said in a joint press release after their meeting with President Gjorge Ivanov and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, leader of the SDSM opposition party Crvenskovski Branko, and head of the DUI party Ali Ahmeti.
Füle, Howitt and Buzek stated that they were “looking forward” to “swift” implementation of the agreement so that the country's European integration agenda might come back on track, the reform process be intensified and so that the European Parliament and European Council might be able to publish their reports (see EUROPE 10795).
This agreement includes all the parties of the parliament resuming their work and participating in the local elections on 24 March. After these elections, the possible organisation of early parliamentary elections could be discussed. A joint committee will be set up to investigate the events of 24 December (see EUROPE 10758). (CG/transl.fl)