In the conclusions which the foreign ministers of the EU should adopt within the following two days in Brussels at the regular December’s summit, worsening of the democratic condition was registered in Macedonia.
Welcoming the fact that the European agenda “remains a strategic priority,” in the country, ministers say that politicization of state institutions must be reduced.
-There are serious concerns about the increasing politicization of state institutions and the growing gaps in the independence of the judiciary and media freedom. Non-compliance with these issues hurt the sustainability of the reforms. The Council urges the authorities to take decisive steps to resolve these problems – read the first paragraph of the conclusions.
Furthermore, the Council calls on the opposition and the Government to overcome the political crisis and to find common ground and it appealed to establishment of greater trust between ethnic communities.
Ministers also stated their opinion on the name dispute, repeating that it is necessary for a mutually acceptable solution to be found.
– As far as the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is concerned, we are trying to unblock the issue, but, as you know, there are many obstacles and so far I do not see any movement, but this is not something that I can accept forever and I will certainly do everything I can in the following months to improve the situation – said Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn before today’s agreement.
As a reminder, recently the Commissioner Hahn implied unblocking of the name dispute.