EU Postpones Decision on Macedonia

Brussels | 08 December 2009 |

Gruevski and Rehn, archive photo

EU foreign ministers postponed a decision for the start of accession talks with Macedonia, after Greece opposed an early start to the talks.

EU foreign ministers discussed the issue of Macedonia until late Monday in an attempt to find a breakthrough with Greece, postponing a press conference that had been scheduled for that afternoon.

The Swedish presidency had initially prepared a draft conclusion where it said ministers would consider the issue in March 2010, with a view to setting a date for the opening of accession negotiations. The Greek government objected, arguing that it would not be able to promise any dates to Macedonia.

Therefore EU ministers agreed to “return to the issue during the Spanish Presidency'', that starts on 1 January, 2010.

"The Council notes that the Commission recommends the opening of accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and will return to the matter during the next presidency," ministers said in a statement.

They stressed the need for a resolution of the name issue and of maintaining good neighborly relations. At the same time they said they were encouraged by recent positive developments in relations between Greece and Macedonia.

Macedonia has been an EU candidate country since December 2005. For a number of years the country did not fulfill necessary criteria, but in this autumn’s progress report the European Commission said Skopje is ready to start talks, and recommended member states extend a start date.

However, Greece has all along said it will block any decision to give Skopje a start date pending a solution to the 18-year-old name dispute with the country. In April 2008, Greece also blocked NATO's invitation for Macedonia’s membership in the Alliance for the same reason.

Athens claims Macedonia's constitutional name implies territorial demands over its norther province, also called Macedonia.

Macedonia's Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, in Brussels to participate in the conference, stated on Tuesday that “Greece has already done big political damage and history will prove this”.

He argued that Greece cannot remove Macedonia's name or identity, because according to him, Macedonians have existed for centuries, “ever since Alexander the Great”.

“We will not be broken by injustice. We are small but strong,” Gruevski said.

Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn tried to sound a positive note on the outcome, noting that the statement permits Macedonia to continue to make progress in EU related reforms and keeps open the possibility of striving to find a solution to the name issue.

''I am glad that following the Commission's recommendation for opening accession negotiations, the Council decided to return to the matter during next the presidency, thus we have a framework for making progress on the EU road fo this country,'' he said.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt noted that neither Greece nor Macedonia are happy with the outcome, but suggested that it leaves the way open for future compromise: ''This is not to the immediate immense satisfaction of either of the parties but it carries forward towards the ultimate satisfaction of both of them. That is a compromise,'' that will take ''both Europe and this part of Europe, forward,'' he added.

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Comments:

Gruevsky
2009-12-08 14:59:48

Were you really expecting anything else?? You act so suprised...well don't be suprised the next time if this issue is not solved. Sadly you do not care about your people

THANKS MR. GRUEVSKI!
2009-12-08 15:10:03

"He argued that Greece cannot remove Macedonia's name or identity because Macedonians have existed for centuries, "ever since Alexander the Great'! The truth is that you are "makedonski" not Macedonian Mr. Gruevski and that you have existed since...1945 (or as far back as the end of 19th century...). Thank you for claiming again in public direct ancenstry from ...Alexander for yourself and your people-it is this exactly that makes you a bad neighbor to Greece (and Bulgaria plus Albania), a threat to regional peace and stability and totally ineligible to join NATO and the EU! Thanks again for such statements!

Greufsky is right when he says...
2009-12-08 15:36:22

"Macedonians have existed for centuries, ever since Alexander the Great" That is exactly your problem pseudomacedonians! Real Macedonians have existed for 3,000 years and still exist and wont give their name to wannabees

antiquization kaput
2009-12-08 19:42:02

//if you wanna ride, don't ride the white horse, ride the white pony//

Macedonia
2009-12-09 02:34:57

What language did Alexander the Great speak and write, Mr. Gruevski? Macedonians existed centuries before Alexander the Great and they spoke and wrote Greek.

Our leaderless nation
2009-12-09 04:05:24

Gruevski deosn't have what it takes to compromise. Gruevski fails our people on every stage of his tenure. He remains one of the most unliked public figures in Macedonia while he is seen as a national hero in the diaspora. He again as the voice-piece of the diaspora stated his antiquisation belief that we the Macedonians are descendents of Al. Veliki. He speaks for part of our nation while the other part strongly disagrees with his views which are bankrolled by the diaspora. Our proud forefathers like Gotse Delchev, Dame Gruev, and Boris Sarafov would all be turning in their graves if they seen that VMORO which they founded had been hijacked by right wing conservatives peddling fabrications of our ethnic origins and history. Again he refers to some illusionay ancient connection when many of our educated youth and universities openly denounce his romantic affiliation to Al. veliki to whom he'll be erecting a multi-million Euro singing statue in the middle of Skopje singing traditional Macedonian folk songs. Many continue to believe that we are a nation without a leader but rather we have a puppet whose strings are pulled from the diaspora in far away Canada, Australia, and America. Our leaderless nation continues to suffer the woes of conservatism, unemployment, and lack of reliable infrastructure while our government spends high on building ancient symbols for personal consumption. While our citizens struggle in this global crisis Gruevski, Milososki, and co. have all slowly become some of the richest people in Macedonia buying into some of the most spectacular real estate thanks to some kind, wealthy members of the diaspora. Long Live the Macedonian Youth.

EU
2009-12-09 05:35:50

Gruevski never made that comment..Ahhh Greeks so easily manipulated.

Not in the middle
2009-12-09 06:02:40

As I ponder this problum in the Balkans I can't but help to think of the Albanians. Here are a peoples whos lands were taken and renamed and rewriten and they deal with it the best they can. So two the macs and Greek you both should give it a rest and move along, the Albanians did! Outside of the fact that they got dardania back or should I say Kosovo, get it?

ridicolous greeks
2009-12-09 10:08:06

I do not believe that Alexander the Great could write. Greece is so arrogant. You are Greece and Macedonia is Macedonia, I do not understand your problem. You should fight with Turkey in stead of Macedonia. They took yout Cypres away. But Macedonia doen not steal anything from you. It is only a name.

it is not unexpected
2009-12-09 10:23:16

It is not so unexpected news, EU is not functioning well and this is prime example of it. There are hard questions that EU has to solve in its backyard if it wants to stay in touch with world affairs and be important force of any credibility. In meantime Macedonians have to stick to reforms, they worked hard and progress is visible, too bad that EU is not on the same level. And for Greece, OMG are there any good news for their own problems...the worst debt in Eurozone, completely lack of credibility during joining to Eurozone , then long term lack of structural reforms with social unrest and here we are...it is much easier to blame other for its own faults and mistakes.

EU postpones decision on Macedonia
2009-12-09 11:09:38

If I was greek I'd be worried right now, very worried! Not from a threat of external military intervention or attack, acts of terror, nothing like that. Right this minute, bevildered EU politicians are holding their heads wandering why are they supporting a country; greece, that has only her personal self interests in mind. Placing blokades even threatening military agression against a small country that is incapable of agression. Yes, EU politicians are looking for ways to prevent greece from doing this in the future. I do believe that the EU laws will be changed to allow majority vote. This is a bloody disgrace! greek credibility=0

Republic of Macedonia
2009-12-09 11:17:39

Enough of lies you people , does not matter what language spoke Alexander theMAcedonian what it does Matter that there are people saying they are Macedonians and living in Macedonia how do you know what Language spoke Alexander, his father killed 100 000 Greeks at Chearonea and you telling us that his son was Greek , guys go and get a reality check . Oh by the way how old is Todays Greece(185 y.o.) Oh , who was your first king?(Otto fromBavaria -Germany) Oh , who was your second king /(from Danmark and who cares what was his name ) And your flag originates from an Indian company from excisting in the 18 century. Your history is writen by English and not by your selves and do not tell me Macedonia excists since 1945 , Macedonia excist long time before your country . If you have a problem with Macedonia then good ,you have a Problem ,not us.

Gruev - Europe's lame duck
2009-12-09 13:56:10

Once again Gruev playing mr innocent and wondering what went wrong. Even Bulgaria warned Skopje about claiming non-existent minorities in Bulgaria and sent a letter of support with Greece to the EU. When Gruev goes - which everyone can wait out for there will be a solution. Gruev, jobs not statues - "Unemployment in FYROM-three times higher than the EU average"

RE: Giorgio
2009-12-09 15:39:44

Sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder. Really now, Greece has a fundamental right to block FRYOM. Identity theft is a crime and on behalf of all the Balkans and the EU we are doing you a favour. Who gives you the right to distort and manipulate history and the minds of your people. Don't you think they deserve a better future? Smell the roses because it will be same all over again and please next time don't look so suprised.

EU Postpones Decision on Macedonia
2009-12-09 21:47:28

Macedonia is into EU since Greece is. Like Bavaria is into EU since Germany is. FYROM/Vardarska Banovina is not...

AKP
2009-12-10 02:09:44

No chip on my shoulder, AKP! Independent observer only. I call it as I see it. Let me explain; You have a small and poor country on one side with the name of Macedonia. That is the only name they have, they are not asking to take your name are they? On the other side you have greece. Five time bigger in population, armed to the teeth using all kinds of threats and it's position as a NATO and EU member in oreder to force a "compromise". I find this deplorable and quite frankly had you been doing this to some other bigger country, by now greece would have been in a lot of "bother". Just like greece, Macedonia has her own history and her people are proud of it. I would strongly advise to the government in athens to stop this stupidity as EU politicians are growing tired of supporting a lie.

Greece out of EU
2009-12-10 17:46:09

There is no place for Greece in the European Union. You are poor and incapable. Greetings from the Czech Republic.

Georgio
2009-12-11 13:50:00

Your "poor little country" has as much relation to Macedonia as it has to Sicily or Catalunya. The original name is Paeonia and was only part of Macedonia at the time when Persia and Egypt were part of Macedonia. This is NOT the name they have. This is the name they have been brainwashed to want. Why? Long story, but look up what the original VMRO founders like Christo Tatarchev and Ivan Hadjinikolof were saying before the Balkan wars, i.e. that their goal was to grab the land for Bulgaria, or as a fallback solution create an independent macedonia which could at a later and more favorable time unite with Bulgaria. Gruevski is the one that added the antiquisation iditoc theories that can be shot down in a single line. If you think Macedonians were not greek, just ask the jews the victory over whom do they celebrate on Channukah, greeks or macedonians? Why should anyone even talk to a country with a leadership which is simply halluscinating? FYI, the point is that not only does fake Macedonia have as much relation to Macedonia as it has to Sicily(you would support them if they wanted to call themselves Sicilians, wouln't you?) It is also a much smaller part, both in land and population, with no historical connection to ancient Macedonia. So why should the word refer to them and not to the majority of real macedonians, living in real macedonia and having a much stronger historical connection, is a question no sane person understands.

Re: Jan
2009-12-11 17:45:18

Oh yes and you are rich and poweerful. Yes we see half your young population working in UK in the hospitality industry, a rich and powerful country...

Re to: Tashko
2009-12-12 00:19:13

Tashko you said: "his father (Philip) killed 100 000 Greeks at Chearonea and you telling us that his son was Greek" Tashko to start with, Philip killed around 3,000 soldiers in Chaeronia. Even Athens as a city was smaller than 100,000 people.. Second, in Chaeronia it was Macedonians, Aeolians, Thessalanians against Atheneans, Korinthians and Thivans. Even Spartans were out of this battle because they were of Dorian tribe origins like Macedonians and Epirotans were. Now.. do you believe that Spartans, Thessalanians and Aeolians were also non-Greeks since they were against Atheneans? Have you ever heard of city-state wars in Greece back then Einstein? That is what Gruevski teaches you in highschools?

Tru
2009-12-20 20:12:27

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Dancing Alexander-style, Down Under

EU Postpones Decision on Macedonia