Brussels, 21/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - During his visit to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn called on the country's political leaders to continue implementing the political agreement that was concluded between June and July. He also called on FYROM's leaders to continue implementing the reforms, including the adoption of a new electoral code, in order for the country to be able to move forwards in its EU accession process.
Stating that the elections were due to take place before the end of April 2016, Hahn underlined the importance for the electoral law to be adopted for 6 October. “It's important to have an appropriate electoral code [and] I agree with the political parties that there should be an agreement on the substance and content of the new electoral law by 6 October at the latest”, he said during a press conference with Moldova's Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, at the end of a new EU-FYROM high level dialogue meeting. Hahn stated that the elections would have to take place in accordance with EU standards and that it was important that the electoral reform be implemented before these elections.
At the end of this meeting, the parties reiterated that the priority areas for action, in addition to the electoral reform, included respect for the independence of the judicial power and the media, the rule of law and fundamental rights, and reform of the public administration. The parties also underlined the importance of good inter-ethnic relations.
In addition, Hahn affirmed that FYROM's European aspirations were “still alive” and that “all the measures taken to reach this objective are a sign for keeping this outlook alive”. Gruevski stated that, on his side, “the start of the negotiations with the EU was the Republic of Macedonia's main objective”. “The crisis has not been entirely resolved. If we implement the agreement point by point, we will be able to do everything to convince the EU member states to start the [accession] negotiations”, he added. He then said that “this was not going to happen in a few months, however”. Hahn also said that the EU had learned the lesson that the delay in launching the negotiations had only contributed to creating problems for the country.
FYROM obtained its EU candidate status in 2005, but the negotiations have still not begun. The progress report on FYROM will be presented by the European Commission in mid-October. If the report is positive, the Commission could then propose - for the seventh consecutive year - opening accession negotiations. (Original version in French by Camille Cerise Gessant)