Brussels, 16/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 December, the Council of the EU announced that it would return to the issue of opening accession negotiations for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) after the elections in April 2016. This will be done on the basis of an update by the European Commission, which is expected before the summer.
In the conclusions they adopted, the ministers state that the opening of the negotiations is conditional upon the continuing implementation of the June-July political agreement and on progress in the urgent priorities for reforms. They therefore call again on the all the parties to respect their commitment to implementing these reforms and addressing the systemic problems linked to the rule of law - such as human rights violations, the independence of the judicial system, the freedom of the media, corruption and the politicisation of public institutions.
The Council reiterates that it has serious concerns about the political crisis, and it calls for a more constructive and inclusive political dialogue. While hailing the June-July agreement, the ministers call for its “full and constructive” implementation by all parties. The April 2016 elections must take place in a credible manner and in line with international standards, the ministers state, and they ask the parties to bring it about that fair conditions and electoral reforms might be established, responding to the recommendations of the OSCE. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)