Macedonia's opposition must accept the fact that the government enjoys the support of the majority of citizens, return to the Parliament and realize that the boycott is not a response, MEP Bernd Posselt said Tuesday at a first presentation of a European Parliament draft-resolution on Macedonia progress to the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), MIA reports from Brussels.
However, Posselt said those backed by the majority should also understand that the minority was also entitled to own rights. An end should be also put to the threats of Macedonia's territorial aspiration towards the neighbours, Posselt said, pointing out that the country has thus far amended its constitution, flag and accepted an interim reference only for the sake of settling the row over its constitutional name, 'which unfortunately is still present.'
"Therefore, I fully agree with the proposal of EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule for launching of Macedonia's EU accession talks. In the meantime the process for settling the name dispute may also carry on, considering the fact that the EU accession talks take about 8-10 years. But the idea for blocking the start of the accession talks is unacceptable," said Posselt, German MEP of Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats).
Presenting the draft-resolution, Rapporteur for Macedonia Richard Howitt also mentioned the deadlock between the two main political parties in the country as a result of the events of 24 December last year related to adopting the 2013 budget at the Parliament. EP and all other European institutions should be careful in regard to this political crisis and avoid any interference in the country's internal policy, he said.
In a draft resolution Howit says that EP reiterates its call on the Council to set a date for the start of accession negotiations without further delay.
EP believes that the European Council conclusions unanimously endorsed for a time-limited decision by June 2013 based on a further report by the Commission represent a genuine step forward; congratulates the Enlargement Commissioner for his initiatives and calls on him to include an assessment of the cost of non-enlargement in the report he prepares; encourages the continuing diplomatic exchanges which have taken place between Athens, Sofia and Skopje and calls on all sides to demonstrate a proper commitment to "good neighbourly relations" based on mutual respect and friendship; calls on the Irish Presidency to conduct intense diplomacy to achieve a satisfactory outcome.
It strongly believes that the start of negotiations can itself be a "game-changer" to further encourage reforms and favourable relations with neighbours, the draft resolution reads.
Howitt considers that Macedonia-EC High Level Accession Dialogue (HLAD) has been an important instrument to break the existing logjam, enabling for full or partial progress to be made in over 75% of policy areas identified.
In his draft, Howitt once again calls on the Commission and the Council to start developing, in accordance with the EU Treaties, a generally applicable arbitration mechanism aimed at solving bilateral issues between enlargement countries and member states.
"Believe me that there is no plan 'B' for this country, it has been blocked and that blockade should be lifted, which is favour of the country, its citizens and the EU," Howitt said.
After the debate, Howitt said than upon request of some MEPs the political crisis in Macedonia must be notified in the EP resolution on the country. He also agreed with a proposal of Belgian MEP Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck that Macedonia and Greece were sharing common history and figures, as it was the case with Bulgaria.
"Today the leaders of the two main political parties have launched a dialogue, which is good for overcoming the problems. Greeks didn't reject Fule's proposal for a trilateral meeting, while Macedonia's PM Nikola Gruevski says he welcomes all initiatives for settling the (name) issue. Hence, we as the EP, should find a way by this June the accession talks of this country to be launched and I call on my colleagues to join me to make it happen," Howitt said.
Delegates may submit their objections to Howitt's draft resolution by January 28. It will be forwarded for a second reading to the Committee on Foreign Affairs on 25 February and voted on March 4. EP will debate and vote on the resolution’s final version in mid April.
