European Parliament with 486 votes in favor, 55 against and 29 abstentions, adopted the resolution on Macedonia’s progress in 2013, proposed by British MEP Richard Howitt, MIA reports from Strasbourg.
The European Parliament resolution once again calls the Council of the European Union without further delay to set start date for negotiations with Macedonia in the EU. It was stressed that the bilateral issues should not be obstacle for the start of negotiations, although they need to be resolved before the end of the memebership process.
Bilateral and good neighborly relations according to the adopted text should be in the constructive spirit taking into account the principles of the UN and the EU.
EP regretted that the postponement of the date for the talks highlights the growing frustration of the public opinion of the impasse in which the process of integration into the EU is and risks causing problems and tensions in the country. It also regrets that the Council reiterated the same formulation of 2012 for Macedonia. Greece is called upon to use its EU presidency to give new enthusiasm to the process of integration, which would be confirmed by the engagement of the Thessaloniki agenda 2003 and will create positive environment for resolving bilateral differences in the spirit of European values and to use their managerial position to develop initiatives aimed at leaving the current impasse in the talks.
Macedonia is urged to continue with reforms and to put an end to its policies and practices that may be create obstacle for its European future, and to achieve progress in the areas mentioned in the conclusions of the EU Council.
EP underlines that continuing to delay the date for negotiations is causing increased and unplanned costs for country and regional stability, requiring the government and the Commission to make estimates and quantitative analysis of the social and economic cost of the consequences of non-expansion and political risks at national and regional level if fail to establish date by the Council to start negotiations.
The resolution insists that all candidate countries to be treated according to merit. EP considers that the Copenhagen criteria are sufficiently met for country to start negotiations and that the EU membership is when a country completely meets them.
EP takes into account the judgment of the International Court of Justice of the fifth December 2011 on the implementation of the Interim Agreement of 13th September 1995, and is of the opinion that the leaders of the EU countries should systematically explain to the public the advantages of one solution, once again will be decided, before the referendum on the issue.
The good climate of bilateral meetings between the five working groups in Macedonia and Bulgaria is greeted. The dialogue on these issues is a good framework for discussing sensitive issues of history, population or other common threads between the two countries, requires taking significant measures to achieve, in a reasonable period a bilateral agreement, which is most appropriate in this regard. EP is concerned again against the use of historical arguments in the debate with neighbors and requires positive progress in jointly celebrating historical figures and events in the EU Member States. There is the commitment to strengthen scientific cooperation and encouraging positive behavior of youngsters towards neighbors as making books with pedagogical material without ideological interpretations of history. It expressed regret for the country’s reputation in the field of media freedom and the protection of freedom of expression. Here is mentioned the case of the closure of the journalist Tomislav Kezharovski.
In terms of the new law on lustration, EP takes into account, as well as concerns of the Venice Commission and the Helsinki Committee in relation to the constitutionality of this law and its possible abuse. It is oddly, why EP asks the Commission to monitor the execution of ECHR judgments by Macedonia, given that there are particular procedures held by the appropriate authority of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, which so far has not expressed major concerns for this issue.
The resolution inter alia expressed regret for the absence of integrated education and calls for breaking stereotypes, ethnic divisions and promoting inclusive bilingualism on optional basis, condemning all kinds of ultra nationalism.