EC press release - 16 april 2013

The Commission commends continued reform efforts despite recent political tensions, and highlights the pressing challenge of keeping the momentum for political dialogue so that the effects of the political crisis can be fully overcome.

Overall, the implementation of EU-related reforms in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has continued, with progress on almost all the targets and indicators. Relations with neighbours remained good, and steps have been taken in bilateral relations with Bulgaria and Greece. Formal talks on the 'name issue' also took on new momentum during the reporting period.

The report also highlights the importance of the implementation of the political agreement of 1 March 2013 by which the recent political crisis was overcome.

"Progress has been made over the last six months. The challenge is now to maintain that momentum, so that full use can be made of the existing opportunities. To that end the political agreement of 1 March should be fully implemented, including on the Committee of Inquiry, the cross-party Memorandum of Understanding on fulfilling the country's strategic goal of EU membership and resuming dialogue with the journalists", said EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle.

The additional information contained in this Report is intended as an input to the Council's discussions, in June, on the Commission's recommendations to open accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

For more information:

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia country profile:

http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/countries/detailed-country-information/fyrom/index_en.htm

The report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia:

http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2013