Strasbourg, 16/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 16 April, the European Commission published its spring report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), stating that reforms have continued since the last report in October 2012, despite the political tension the country suffered from the end of December to the end of February. During his press conference, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle said that this report amends that of October, which recommended opening accession negotiations with FYROM. “Progress has been made over the last six months. The challenge is now to maintain that momentum”, he said. He hoped that the European Council in June would be able to react to the report that is on the table.
Füle stated that the political crisis has not prevented progress in implementing reforms, with progress “on almost all the targets and indicators” highlighted by the EU. Füle added that FYROM's relations with its neighbours have remained “good”, and spoke of the measures taken in bilateral relations with Greece and Bulgaria, and the progress in discussions on the name of the country (under the aegis of the United Nations). However, Füle again called for implementation of the political agreement of 1 March and for momentum to be maintained in the political dialogue. “The political agreement of 1 March should be fully implemented, including the Committee of Inquiry, the cross-party memorandum of understanding on fulfilling the country's strategic goal of EU membership and resuming dialogue with the journalists”, Füle stressed.
The report is the result of a request from the General Affairs Council on 11 December to present a report on FYROM's progress in implementing reforms, good neighbourly relations and on the issue of the country's name (see EUROPE 10750). (CG/transl.fl)