12/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - “We affirmed FYROM's status as a candidate country” for EU accession, the Finnish external trade and development minister Paula Lehtomäki said after the third EU/FYROM Stabilisation and Association Council meting in Brussels on 11 December, on the sidelines of the General Affairs Council. The EU also welcomed the recent opening of negotiations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on a visa facilitation agreement, said Ms Lehtomäki, who chaired the meeting. The EU also welcomed progress by FYROM on implementing the stabilisation and association programme, although the speed of reform had dropped somewhat. “It is very important that all political forces in the country work together constructively so that the pace of relevant reforms can accelerate in the near future,” said Ms Lehtomäki. (hb)