The European Commission issued
today a report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's progress
in implementing EU-related reforms and on steps taken on good
neighbourly relations and on the 'name issue', as requested by the
Council last December.
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[1]. 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. ----- Related to EL:
Greece
The December 2012 Council Conclusions had stated that :
"... Council will examine, on the basis of a report to be presented by the Commission in Spring 2013 ... steps taken to promote good neighbourly relations and to reach a negotiated and mutually acceptable solution to the name issue under the auspices of the UN."
On 3 October 2012, Foreign Minister Avramopoulos sent a letter proposing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, to which Foreign Minister Poposki replied on 5 November.
Formal talks on the name issue, under the auspices of the United Nations, led by the United Nations Secretary General's Personal Envoy Matthew Nimetz, took on new momentum during the reporting period. A visit by Mr Nimetz to both Athens and Skopje in early January, wasfollowed by talks in New York between the negotiators on 29-30 January. The latest talks took place on 8-9 April, at which the UNSG's Personal Envoy presented a new proposal which he hoped could "pave the way for serious discussions and hopefully a solution".
Cooperation in various fields (economy and trade, police and customs cooperation, military
cooperation) is good at expert level and has yielded substantive results. There are regular
bilateral meetings and contacts at all levels, on a wide range of issues. There has been good
cooperation also on EU issues, including a meeting between senior Foreign Ministry officials in Athens in June 2012 as well as a CSDP seminar in Athens at the end of December 2012. A further meeting of Foreign Ministry officials took place in Skopje on 5 April 2013 and discussed strengthening bilateral sectoral cooperation, sharing EU expertise through twinning or TAIEX, and seminars e.g. on environment.
As regards cross-border, sector al and trade relations, economic cooperation includes contacts between the two Chambers of Commerce with a view to a possible Business Forum in Athens.
A joint meeting co-organised by the Greek Liaison Office and the Skopje Chamber of Commerce in December 2012 addressed various trade and customs issues. There is close cooperation in the area of transport, including on Corridor X. There are a number of proposals to construct additional border crossing points which would require further feasibility assessment. Tourism and other people to people contacts remain high. Regarding trade between the countries, imports from Greece significantly increased during 2012 making it the second largest trade partner and fourth largest source of investment (10% of total inward investment). Implementation of the IPA-funded cross-border programme is proceeding smoothly. Close cooperation also takes place on police and military issues........
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2013/mk_spring_report_2013_en.pdf
16/4/13

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. ----- Related to EL:
- FYROM: STEPS TAKEN TO PROMOTE GOOD NEIGHBOURLY RELATIONS AND TO REACH A NEGOTIATED AND MUTALLY ACCEPTED SOLUTION TO THE NAME ISSUE UNDER THEAUSPICES OF THE UN ....
- Ελληνικό ΥΠΕΞ: Απόσπασμα παρέμβασης ΥΦΥΠΕΞ Δ. Κούρκουλα στην εκδήλωση για την επέτειο υπογραφής Συνθήκης Προσχώρησης στην ΕΕ 10 κρατών-μελών.....
- Ή ένταξη στην ευρωπαϊκή οικογένεια δεν μπορεί να αποτελέσει επιλογή για τις χώρες που δεν είναι πρόθυμες να δημιουργήσουν τις κατάλληλες συνθήκες για την καλλιέργεια σχέσεων καλής γειτονίας. Αναγκαστικός γάμος για ένταξη στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση δεν υπάρχει.
- [1] FYROM: STEPS TAKEN TO PROMOTE GOOD NEIGHBOURLY RELATIONS AND TO REACH A NEGOTIATED AND MUTALLY ACCEPTED SOLUTION TO THE NAME ISSUE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE UN ....
Greece
The December 2012 Council Conclusions had stated that :
"... Council will examine, on the basis of a report to be presented by the Commission in Spring 2013 ... steps taken to promote good neighbourly relations and to reach a negotiated and mutually acceptable solution to the name issue under the auspices of the UN."
On 3 October 2012, Foreign Minister Avramopoulos sent a letter proposing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, to which Foreign Minister Poposki replied on 5 November.
Formal talks on the name issue, under the auspices of the United Nations, led by the United Nations Secretary General's Personal Envoy Matthew Nimetz, took on new momentum during the reporting period. A visit by Mr Nimetz to both Athens and Skopje in early January, wasfollowed by talks in New York between the negotiators on 29-30 January. The latest talks took place on 8-9 April, at which the UNSG's Personal Envoy presented a new proposal which he hoped could "pave the way for serious discussions and hopefully a solution".
Cooperation in various fields (economy and trade, police and customs cooperation, military
cooperation) is good at expert level and has yielded substantive results. There are regular
bilateral meetings and contacts at all levels, on a wide range of issues. There has been good
cooperation also on EU issues, including a meeting between senior Foreign Ministry officials in Athens in June 2012 as well as a CSDP seminar in Athens at the end of December 2012. A further meeting of Foreign Ministry officials took place in Skopje on 5 April 2013 and discussed strengthening bilateral sectoral cooperation, sharing EU expertise through twinning or TAIEX, and seminars e.g. on environment.
As regards cross-border, sector al and trade relations, economic cooperation includes contacts between the two Chambers of Commerce with a view to a possible Business Forum in Athens.
A joint meeting co-organised by the Greek Liaison Office and the Skopje Chamber of Commerce in December 2012 addressed various trade and customs issues. There is close cooperation in the area of transport, including on Corridor X. There are a number of proposals to construct additional border crossing points which would require further feasibility assessment. Tourism and other people to people contacts remain high. Regarding trade between the countries, imports from Greece significantly increased during 2012 making it the second largest trade partner and fourth largest source of investment (10% of total inward investment). Implementation of the IPA-funded cross-border programme is proceeding smoothly. Close cooperation also takes place on police and military issues........
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2013/mk_spring_report_2013_en.pdf
16/4/13
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