'Fall in EU Support' Sparks Macedonia Row

According to results released this week, the latest survey carried out in May indicated 60 per cent of Macedonians consider that EU membership is a good thing for the country - down from 66 per cent the previous year - 11 per cent think it is bad, while 27 percent remained neutral.

The Eurobarometer survey also showed 63 per cent of Macedonian citizens believe unemployment is the biggest problem facing the country, along with the economic crisis.
 
Radmila Shekerinska, the head of the National Council for European Integration and a prominent member of the opposition Social Democrats, blamed the results on the Prime Minister and his team, saying they had stirred up Euroscepticism to cover up their incompetence over moves to bring the country closer to EU membership.

“[PM Nikola] Gruevski searches for culprits every time he is not able to solve the country’s problems, so in that regard, he very often blames the EU,” she said.
 
She said the government itself was Eurosceptic and the stance was fuelling the same sentiment among the public.

But Vasko Naumovski, the Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, blamed the "name row" with Greece for the drop in support for EU accession.

And he said despite the dispute, the percentage of people supporting EU membership remained at a high level in comparison with other member states.

“We should not ignore some open issues that our country has with certain member states,” Naumovski said in reference to Athens, arguing that such disagreements influence the perception Macedonians have about the EU.

Macedonia’s bid to become a NATO and EU member is stuck due to protests from Greece imposed over the unresolved bilateral “name row".
 
Athens insists that the name Republic of Macedonia of its neighbour implies Skopje’s territorial claims against its own northern province that is also called Maceodnia.

Skopje insists any name change could harm its people’s national identity and dignity.

Athens first prevented Skopje from being invited to join NATO in 2008.

Last autumn Greece also blocked Macedonia from starting its EU accession talks, which had previously been recommended by the European Commission.