Brussels, 07/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 6 May, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn called for an urgent solution to the situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) - a situation which he described as “very serious”. The European ministers had called for a political solution in the country on 21 April (see EUROPE 11299). An exchange of accusations going on for several months now between the country's leader of the majority and leader of the opposition has plunged FYROM into a serious political and institutional crisis.
“It is really urgent to find a lasting solution as quickly as possible”, said Hahn at the Regional Cooperation Day hosted by the representation of the Baden-Wurttemberg region in Brussels. He stated that the parties needed to be made responsible and must find a solution to the political crisis as quickly as possible. “All the parties must assume their respective responsibilities and take immediate steps towards a lasting solution”, he said, speaking about the need to engage constructively. Hahn hoped the political parties would make “all the efforts necessary” to avoid the rise of ethnic tension.
He also said that the gaps as regards the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and the freedom of the media should be dealt with immediately.
In the face of different allegations launched against the leaders, Hahn called for investigations, underlining the principle of independence and the presumption of innocence. “There is a lot to be done from a political point of view and from a judicial one. Both have to be done”, he said. In January, the government accused the Left opposition leader, Zoran Zaev, of spying on, and committing violence against, government figures. Zaev accuses the government of illegally eavesdropping on 20,000 people and accuses Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of accepting bribes worth €20 million for awarding contracts for the construction of two sections of motorway.
According to Hahn, the European Commission is following the situation closely and helping MEPs, the rapporteur for FYROM - Ivo Vajgl (ALDE, Slovenia), the former rapporteur - Richard Howitt (S&D, UK) and Eduard Kukan (EPP, Slovakia), who is facilitating discussions between the government and opposition parties to find a solution. Hahn hoped that these MEPs would succeed quickly because “it is in our mutual interest to keep FYROM's European outlook alive - as it has been over recent years”. Hahn has also deployed experts on the ground to look at “the systemic issues identified”. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)