Strasbourg: Starting Macedonia's negotiations recommended in June

The mixed Parliamentary Committee that has held its 16th meeting today under the joint chairmanship of Alojz Petle ( EPP, Slovenia) and Goran Milevski (The Liberal Democratic Party, Republic of Northern Macedonia), changed opinions about relations between the European Union and Northern Macedonia, after which the series of recommendations was adopted, MIA correspondent from Strasbourg announced.

The recommendations welcome the entry into force of the Prespa Agreement, which resolved the ten-year name issue and reinforced North Macedonia's prospects for EU and NATO integration. It is further commemorated in the European Commission Report from April 17th, 2018, and recommendations on opening negotiations for the EU-related integration, suggests that the entry into force of the Prespa Agreement shows the clear definition of North Macedonia for advancing regional reconciliation and good neighbourly relations, as well as for continuing implementation of EU-related reforms, stresses that North Macedonia is well prepared for negotiations on the integration, given its multi-year-old status and that reforms in the area of rule of law, as planned in chapters 23 and 24 will continue to be at the centre of the next phase of the trial.

The EU Eurodeputs and deputies of Northern Macedonia called on the EU capitals “recognise the concrete advance, as did the country for EU-related reforms, especially in the areas confirmed with the Council's conclusions and to open recommendations for EU integration in June of this year, is convinced that opening negotiations in June 2019 would provide further incentives for the consolidation of democracy and rule of law, as well as reinforcement of oversight and accountability<1).

The recommendations have welcomed the achieved progress of North Macedonia and have also been encouraged to continue with its efforts to further consolidate reforms, which are due to the country's essential importance, especially in the scope of the trial, the fight against corruption and organised crime, intelligence and security services, as well as reforms in public administration; welcomes the determination of government and opposition parties for support of the common strategic goal of running into the EU, and calls on the national union in this view; calls on the North Macedonian authorities, all political societies and civil parties to share in the months that are now able to prove that the foreseeable and secure partners.

He welcomes continued progress in the investigation implemented by the Special Public Prosecution for the establishment of legal responsibility for surveillance; he stresses the importance of independent investigations by the Special Public Prosecution and courts, the possibility of implementing their investigations into all outstanding cases and bringing those responsible to justice; he notes the importance of sustainable solutions to the special prosecutor's future status, which is in harmony with the Strategy for Reform in Court.

He takes into account the gradual harmonisation of the North Macedonia legal framework with EU standards. In addition to the steps taken by the government to improve the operational environment for independent institutions of oversight, media and nongovernmental organisations, as well as improved dialogue between government and nongovernmental organisations; notes, however, concern about the lack of visible changes in media freedom, pressure on journalists and censorship itself; regrets that even with poor improvement compared to the previous year, the country remains in the category of separate states “in the latest “Liri in the world “>

He complains about the opposition's decision to stop its participation in the process, Jean Moone, and calls for reinforcement of culture in compromise and constructive political dialogue, especially among MPs, and in the content of what instruction would hinder the effective functioning of parliament, stresses the importance of ensuring that parliament can overall exploit its supervisory and legislative functions;

Once again it is stressed that placing responsibility for those who committed and orchestrated these acts of violence from April 27, 2017 in parliament must continue to be established in harmony with the law, transparently and independently.

The KPP emphasises the importance of keeping the census, to take in adequate and real demographic statistics in accordance with European standards, and stresses the importance in broad political consensus in this view, with the goal of governance to conduct pilot-registering in 2019 and registration in 2020.

The bottom line is that the need to ensure that the presidential elections will be held in the atmosphere of national reconciliation and correctly and transparently; stresses the need for timely submission of the electoral code with comprehensive solutions to remaining OSCE recommendations/ ODIHR, the Venice Commission and GREKO, including for campaign financing and political parties.