British MEP Slates EU Stalling on Macedonia

MEP Richard Howitt

Europe's failure to offer s start date for accession talks with Macedonia was "certainly not unexpected but is deeply unwelcome,” MEP Richard Howitt said.

The MEP was referring to the European Council meeting last Friday at which EU leaders again declined to extend a start date for talks with Macedonia although the European Commission has recommended a start to talks since 2009.


Citing the unresolved dispute between Greece and Macedonia over the latter's name, Greece has blocked Macedonia’s progress to both EU and NATO membership.
 
"Europe cannot go on year after year snatching away the prospect of opening accession negotiations without itself losing credibility on enlargement and dragging its own reputation through the gutter,” Howitt declared.

He vowed that the European Parliament would be “standing firm in its call to set a date for negotiations without further delay”.

Greece insists that use of the term "Macedonia" by its neighbour implies a territorial claim to its own northern province of the same name.

Macedonia, on the other hand, sees the demand to change its name as insulting and as an attack on the country's identity.

On Monday the International Court of Justice, ICJ, ruled that Greece had breached an interim deal, brokered by the UN in 1995, when it blocked Macedonia’s attempt to join NATO in 2008.

Macedonia hopes the decision of the World Court will influence NATO and EU to alter their stance on the dispute.

The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee is set to discuss Howitt’s report on December 20.