Greek Representatives Heat Up Debate over Macedonia in European Parliament

European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) held heated debate on Macedonia after Slovenian MEP Ivo Vajgl presented his draft resolution which again, for the ninth time in a row, calls on the European Council to finally open accession negotiations with Macedonia.

Cypriot Greek and Bulgarian nationalist representatives gave their usual angry complaints against the proposal, which was supported by most of the speakers who pointed out the absurdity of the long running Greek blockade of Macedonia's integration, MIA correspondent from Brussels reports.


Vajgl's fellow Slovenian Alojz Peterle said that the opening of accession negotiations for Macedonia will also push forward the process to solve the name issue, which Greece has raised to block Macedonia from joining NATO and the European Union. Peterle, who also chairs the Joint Parliament Committee between Macedonia and the European Union, and said that he regrets that the Macedonian Parliament isn't working in full, following the decision of SDSM to boycott its work.

Cristian Dan Preda, a Romanian MEP, read comments from Monica Macovei, the shadow rapporteur for Macedonia, who said that she is pleased that Macedonia has pushed forward judicial reforms, while work needs to continue on judicial independence. Macovei's conclusions also welcomed the fact that in fight against corruption, charges were filed against over 30 high ranked officials during 2014.



Richard Howitt, the British MEP who was Rapporteur for Macedonia in the past European Parliament, said that as representative of the European PES Social Democrat Party, he supports the opening of accession negotiations.

"It's shameful that we are the only European Union institution trying to solve the name issue, which is now used for political purposes. We are trying to find a consensus before the situation worsens and we need a tone of reconciliation. There are issues with corruption, freedom of media and the judiciary, but these are issues seen all over the region. These are not issues that should prevent the opening of accession negotiations", Howitt said.

He added that PES will submit amendments to the report that will ask for securing wider support for the proposed amendments to the Macedonian constitution. Due to its boycott of Parliament, SDSM was out of the debate on the amendments, and Howitt asked for more clarity on the amendments that define marriage in traditional terms and allow the establishment of free financial zones in Macedonia.

Charles Tannock, from the European Conservatives and Reformists group, said that it is a shame to keep Macedonia in a limbo regarding its European integration since 2005, when it was first declared an EU candidate country.

Emphasising that Macedonia has a problem with its high unemployment rate, Tannock added that there are tensions between the Albanian and what he called the Slavic population of Macedonia, as well as an issue with the radicalization of Muslims with the fighting in the Middle East.

"There are political issues between the Government and the opposition which led to a boycott of Parliament. PM Nikola Gruevski's Government has worked to created a favourable business climate and open the markets. EU Foreign Affairs representative Federica Mogherini said that she will focus on the Western Balkans, and work to find a solution to the name issue. Opening the EU accession negotiations will move reforms in Macedonia forward, and I believe that any other solution can create social tensions and political instability", Tannock said, adding that he regrets that the name issue mediator Matthew Nimetz hasn't accepted an invitation to explain where the talks stand before the European Parliament.

Comments became heated when Cypriot MEP Demetris Papadakis who is member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, said that the name dispute should be resolved by finding mutually acceptable solution and no pressure should be made otherwise it may never be resolved. Papadakis tried to lay the blame for the delay of negotiations on Macedonia, saying it should build democratic capabilities through reforms, while the name dispute is not the only problem for the country to open EU negotiations.

Cypriot MEP Eleni Theocharous added that Macedonia can't start EU negotiations because of other problems, such as the issue of democracy, the rights of the minorities and judiciary and not due to the blockade of the name.

"There are other problems and even if the name issue is resolved, Macedonia would not be able to immediately start EU negotiations. And regarding the name issue, York is not the same as New York. We need to study history, read Aristotle and Plato and learn about what happened in the WWI and WWII and in the period of Tito. It is also important to be informed about the actions of former Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki who put an illegal flag on Mount Olympus", Teocharous said.

Joining in with the Greek MEPs, Bulgarian nationalist representative Angel Dzambaski, in his remarks, also asked that Macedonia respects the right of ethnic Bulgarians to self determination and to form a political party.

Spanish MEP Javier Nart reacted after the Greek comments to say that the use of a ridiculous name like FYR Macedonia is unacceptable, and so is to have a dispute over whether the sun symbol can be put on Macedonia's flag. Nart pleaded with his Greek colleagues to be reasonable.

Slovakian MEP Eduard Kukan agreed, adding that Mogherini should be more involved to find a solution to the name issue.

David Cullen, who heads the Macedonian unit in the European Commission, answered that the Commission agrees that opening of accession negotiations would help maintain the pace of reforms in Macedonia, and increase the already high level of alignment of the legislative. Cullen said that main areas of concern are political influence over the institutions, independence of the judiciary and the situation in the media.

"The absence of the leading opposition party from Parliament is worrying and it is the responsibility of the Government and the opposition to make sure the debate comes back to the elected bodies", Cullen said.

He added that as soon as conditions are right, the Commission will restart the HLAD process, that allows talks with Macedonia on a number of issues even without opening the accession negotiations.

- See more at: http://www.independent.mk/articles/13509/Greek+Representatives+Heat+Up+Debate+over+Macedonia+in+European+Parliament#sthash.HWGP5lpj.dpuf

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