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Sat, May 26 2012
European Enlargement Commissioner to visit Skopje
European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle
Photo: Nato
European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle is to visit Macedonia on February 19 2010.
"The visit takes place in the context of the European Commission's recommendation to open EU accession negotiations, which on February 10 received the wide backing of the European Parliament," an EC statement said.
Füle intends to "strongly encourage" the country's highest authorities to maintain and further intensify the efforts on the reform agenda as well as to actively pursue the talks on the bilateral name issue with Greece under the UN auspices.
"The European Commission will do its utmost to support the reform agenda. Now is a time of opportunity, a time to show leadership and address outstanding issues in a European spirit," Füle said.
During his stay, Füle will meet president Gjorgje Ivanov, prime minister Nikola Gruevski and he will address the joint parliamentary committee between the Macedonian parliament and the European Parliament.
Füle with also meet the leader of the SDSM party Branko Crvenkovski and the leader of the Democratic Union for Integration party Ali Ahmeti.
In a resolution adopted on February 10 2010, the European Parliament said that with negotiations with the government in Skopje expected by MEPs "to begin in the near future", the Parliament asked the European Council to confirm, at its March 2010 summit, that it accepts the European Commission's recommendation that negotiations be opened.
MEPs supported the Greek government's suggestion of a "symbolic and motivational target date of 2014" for the EU accession of Western Balkan countries, in a resolution drafted by Zoran Thaler and adopted by 548 votes to 45, with 35 abstentions.
On the issue of the country's name, the European Parliament asked the governments in Skopje and in Athens to "redouble their efforts at the highest level to find a mutually satisfactory solution to the name issue".
According to MEPs, the EU should be ready to assist in the negotiation process.
"The visit takes place in the context of the European Commission's recommendation to open EU accession negotiations, which on February 10 received the wide backing of the European Parliament," an EC statement said.
Füle intends to "strongly encourage" the country's highest authorities to maintain and further intensify the efforts on the reform agenda as well as to actively pursue the talks on the bilateral name issue with Greece under the UN auspices.
"The European Commission will do its utmost to support the reform agenda. Now is a time of opportunity, a time to show leadership and address outstanding issues in a European spirit," Füle said.
During his stay, Füle will meet president Gjorgje Ivanov, prime minister Nikola Gruevski and he will address the joint parliamentary committee between the Macedonian parliament and the European Parliament.
Füle with also meet the leader of the SDSM party Branko Crvenkovski and the leader of the Democratic Union for Integration party Ali Ahmeti.
In a resolution adopted on February 10 2010, the European Parliament said that with negotiations with the government in Skopje expected by MEPs "to begin in the near future", the Parliament asked the European Council to confirm, at its March 2010 summit, that it accepts the European Commission's recommendation that negotiations be opened.
MEPs supported the Greek government's suggestion of a "symbolic and motivational target date of 2014" for the EU accession of Western Balkan countries, in a resolution drafted by Zoran Thaler and adopted by 548 votes to 45, with 35 abstentions.
On the issue of the country's name, the European Parliament asked the governments in Skopje and in Athens to "redouble their efforts at the highest level to find a mutually satisfactory solution to the name issue".
According to MEPs, the EU should be ready to assist in the negotiation process.
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Sasha,as usual you talk rubbish.To me you sound like you have sold your soul to foreign interests.The Macedonians cannot change their identity,it is our right to identify ourselves who we are,not who we are not.
Stefan Fule's optimism is a reflection of current EU negotiations which have finally convinced our government to practice flexibility and move on from the double name formula. The news (various media sources) on the ground is that a Northern prefix will be implemented universally and that our people will receive ID cards, passports, etc., with e.g. citizens of Northern Macedonia. In other words, crunch time has arrived together with the visit of Nimitz and the separate meeting with Papandreou a solution is lurking in the foreseeable future. The question of whether there will be a referendum on the issue is [...]
Read the full comment uncertain as this was the governments political tool which was used to threaten the Greeks and the rest of the Western world. The news has not been well received by many in our diaspora communities and especially among the antiquisationists who are already starting to cry foul in the streets of Skopje. Gruevski's partial Greek heritage has gotten the better of him as he has realised that the only way forward is compromise. It is a good response and with the help of the EU this whole issue will be relegated to the wasted pages of modern Balkan history.
Long Live Vasko Gligorov, the Macedonian Youth, & SDSM
The comment by "Peter" on Feb. 18,2010 at 20:48 CET is my comment. PEter has no guts to use his bulgarian name .Macedonia is importent to the Balkans as we will stabilize the region when we take control of former ancient Macedonian lands.
The comment by "Peter" on Feb. 18,2010 at 20:48 CET is not my comment.This individual has no guts to use his name.Macedonia is importent to EU and NATO.Macedonia has met the requirements by both organisations.Sooner or later Macedonia will become member and will not use the Greek tactic.
I think he should take his pills
and go to sleeeeeep1!!!
What have been smoking?
Are you dreaming?
The Republic of Macedonia does not need the EU, we shall retake Pirin and Aegean Macedonia and will subdue the albanians and Greater Macedonia shall be again