EU Calls on Macedonia Leaders to Stick to Commitments

European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy Johannes Hahn (C) followed by the Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski (L),EU ambassador Aivo Orav (R), opposition leader Zoran Zaev (behind ,L) and US ambassador in Macedonia Jess L. Baily (beh

The European Commission has called on Macedonian politicians to hold on to the promises made during talks with EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn on Tuesday.

A meeting resulted in an agreement that snap elections should take place by end-April 2016, according to Hahn.

MIA news agency reported Wednesday that a number of reforms have to be prepared and carried out before any early election takes place, including an amended Election code, cleared voting lists, and measures to ensure that different communities are treated with respect.

In a statement to journalists following an eight-hour-long meeting, Hahn said there had been an agreement during the meeting with heads of the four major political parties, including PM Nikola Gruevski, "to foresee a kind of transitional period."

Local media reports suggest that a transitional government has to be agreed within days if a new vote is to take place next year.

The statement also implies moves by the EU Commission to "apply the methodology usually used when we negotiate the chapters 23 and 24" to boost the independence of Macedonia's judiciary. The two respective chapters are "Judiciary & Fundamental Rights" and "Justice, Freedom and Security".

Macedonia has not yet begun accession negotiations with the EU though it has been a candidate since 2005.

Among EU officials who helped broker talks between PM Gruevski and socialist opposition leader Zoran Zaev in Brussels last month, MEP Richard Howitt has commented on the developments.

 

I welcome @JHahnEU statement on fYR #Macedonia talks. I note interesting wording "kind of transitional period." http://t.co/AgsH4GOO8A

— Richard Howitt MEP (@richardhowitt) June 3, 2015

Macedonia has been rocked by a political crisis in the past months, with protests against Gruevski's government and a deadly attack in the town of Kumanovo in May. The opposition had repeatedly called on Gruevski to step down, citing wiretapped conversations that it calls "evidence" of massive abuse of power.

Zaev is being tried over the affair and has been accused of attempting a coup d'etat alongside 4 other politicians and state officials. A ruling is expected within a fortnight.

Gruevski has been Macedonia's Prime Minister since 2006. Last year he won early elections he called to boost support for his own party, conservative VMRO-DPMNE, but the party. failed to reach the majority.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!