European Parliament to Debate Macedonia Resolution

In the draft resolution that is likely to be adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, the Parliament once again recommends the start of Macedonia's EU accession talks and expresses “regret that the Council has not taken a decision on the opening of accession negotiations as recommended by the Commission for a second year in a row.”

The MEPs also express regret that the name dispute between Macedonia and Greece has blocked Macedonia’s path towards EU membership, urging the two sides to reach a mutually acceptable solution in the spirit of good neighbourly relations.

The document expresses concern about the growing inter-ethnic tensions in the country, as well as problems with political culture. They call on opposition parties to end their boycott of parliament, and the government to ensure conditions for constructive political dialogue.

The committee also points to high unemployment rates among young people and makes specific mention of several problems the country continues to face, including the fight against corruption, judiciary reform that should be implemented more swiftly and deteriorating media freedom.

Bulgarian MEP Kristian Vigenin is responsible for seeing the draft through the Parliament, replacing Slovenian Zoran Thaler, who resigned from his post amid a corruption scandal last month.

Balkan Insight incorrectly reported on Tuesday that Vigenin was taking over from Thaler as the European Parliament's Rapporteur on Macedonia. The resolution will be shepherded through the vote by Vigenin on Thursday, but a new rapporteur has yet to be named.

Thaler resigned from his MEP post in March over allegations of corruption made by a British newspaper. He has denied British media reports that he agreed to offers of cash in exchange for amending laws in the European Parliament.