Brussels, 08/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 8 October, the European Commission underlined that the EU accession process of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is “at an impasse”. In its progress report, the Commission recommends opening accession negotiations for the sixth consecutive year because FYROM continues to respond sufficiently to the political criteria for EU accession thanks to cumulative progress. The Commission nevertheless regrets the step backwards in 2014.
The failure of the government to progress enough on a certain number of key issues has damaged the sustainability of the reforms, with an evident step backwards in certain areas, the Commission states. It urges the Macedonian authorities to take decisive measures to respond to “concerns about increasing politicisation” of the state institutions and the growing gaps with regard to the independence of judicial power and the freedom of expression, so that the recommendation to open accession negotiations might be upheld in the years to come.
While the political crises showed that the interests of the parties prevailed increasingly over national interests, the Commission recalled that it was “the responsibility of both government and opposition to ensure that political debate takes place primarily in parliament” and to contribute to creating the conditions for it to function well. The Commission regrets that no high level dialogue meeting has taken place over the past year.
The Commission also recalls that it is “essential” that decisive measures be taken to resolve the name issue with Greece. Resolute action is needed, as well as the proactive support of European leaders, the Commission states. (CG)