Brussels, 19/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - Commissioner Olli Rehn (Enlargement) welcomed the European Council's decision to grant candidate country status to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The Commission had recommended that this be so “because the country deserves it on objective grounds”. At this stage, the Commission does not yet recommend opening talks, Mr Rehn stresses (during the General Affairs Council of 12 December, Mr Rehn had even said that the question of opening talks should be “assessed in coming years”: see EUROPE 9087). Further steps in the FYROM accession process will “depend on the country's ability to meet its obligations under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and to comply sufficiently with the membership criteria”, the Commissioner said. The Commission will report to the Council on this subject at regular intervals. The European Council's decision also sends a powerful political signal to the whole of the Western Balkans region, namely that all these countries have the prospect of becoming a member of the EU, on condition that they meet the criteria set. By giving candidate status to FYROM, the European Union has also demonstrated the credibility of its policy in favour of the Western Balkans, Mr Rehn concluded.