The European Commission has confirmed for the third year running the recommendation for start of Macedonia's accession negotiations with the European Union, whereas the name row settlement is crucial for their beginning, Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said at Wednesday's press conference in Brussels while presenting conclusions from the country's 2011 Progress Report.
"We maintain our recommendation to open accession negotiations. The prospect of European Union accession has been a driver of the reform process. However, there has been little progress over the past year. Core challenges remain, notably: independence of the judiciary, reform of public administration and fighting corruption. Freedom of expression remains a serious concern", said Fule.
This report may not necessarily be for Macedonia, since the name of the country is not mentioned anywhere. Fule explained Brussels is being consistent in not mentioning the name. Though Fule is fairly consistent about being wrong because the name was mentioned in the 2006 report.
The real question is, does anyone really care how the EU is grading not just Macedonia, but other nations as well? Are we still going to pretend we are negotiating the name and wish to join the EU?
EU's reports have become as relevant as the US reports on 'human rights'. They are meaningless, absolutely no one cares! Perhaps an odd comparison, but the creator of Family Guy, Seth Macfarlane when attacked about the message his show was sending said "receiving feedback from certain organizations on moral values, is like receiving feedback on ethics and moral values from Hitler".
The Danish have zero faith in the EU, have already defeated the Euro in a referendum and have re-established customs checkpoints on its borders. Croatians are strongly against entering the EU, but their corrupt government will put them in the club anyways. The EU is sucking Athens dry making Greece a third world country by 2013, though most would say it already is.
So yes, the EU has made a terrific case for "Your Country" to stay far from it and avoid it like the plague.
