New era looms in EU relations with Skopje

Date: 26/10/1995

By Elizabeth Wise

WITH a new sun on its flag, Skopje is coming in from the cold.

Now that Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) have established diplomatic ties, the EU is considering the inclusion of the republic in its reconstruction programmes. The European Commission is also drafting a request for a negotiating mandate for stepping up EU-Macedonia ties.

When EU foreign ministers meet on Monday (30 October), they are likely to discuss including FYROM in Phare reconstruction programmes for Central and Eastern Europe. Not only would this bring Macedonia new economic and financial aid, it would put it in the club of nations with increasingly close ties with the Union.

During the ministers' last meeting on 2 October, German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel asked his counterparts to consider integrating Macedonia into EU programmes and accords.

Diplomats expect Kinkel to repeat this request on Monday and Foreign Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek said last week the Commission was preparing a cooperation accord for the republic.

Although the Commission's proposal to amend Phare to include FYROM has been ready since 1993, the Council of Ministers has not acted on it due to a feud with Greece since the republic broke away from former Yugoslavia in 1992. The proposal has waited in the Council for an opportune moment. As one Commission official said: “The moment is now.”

Last week, Athens ended its 19-month trade embargo against FYROM and took the first step towards establishing diplomatic relations. It will no longer block a move to include Macedonia in Phare, Greek officials say.

“We would not oppose economic aid for reconstruction of FYROM,” a Greek diplomat said. “The approach now vis-à-vis FYROM is very positive. Our politics have completely changed.”

The one prerequisite to bringing Macedonia into Phare is established diplomatic relations between the Union and Skopje. Fourteen EU states have them and Greece is moving closer.

Greece and FYROM agreed last Friday to liaison offices in Athens and Skopje, but Greek officials say this does not constitute full diplomatic ties. Greece has diplomatically recognised FYROM on the condition it uses all five words in its name, but will not recognise a country simply called 'Macedonia'. Negotiations on the name will begin at the end of this month in New York and Greek diplomats say they do not believe the bilateral talks could endanger initiatives being taken at EU level to benefit the republic.

But it is unlikely that EU-FYROM relations could take on a highly-political nature until the name contest is resolved.

“Maybe we shouldn't expect a fundamental political initiative,” the Greek diplomat said. But he added that Greece would agree to give the Commission a negotiating mandate, allowing it to begin talks with Skopje on an eventual trade and cooperation accord with the EU.

That would bring it into line with neighbouring countries already on the road towards European integration. Albania and Slovenia have similar accords, although Slovenia is looking to upgrade its own with political ties in a so-called 'Europe accord' paving the way for EU membership. Neighbours Bulgaria and Romania already have Europe accords. EU talks with Croatia on a trade accord were frozen in August because of Croatian offensives in Bosnia.

Commission officials seeking permission to negotiate with Skopje have not yet identified specific projects or hurdles to cooperation, but say that a go-ahead from EU foreign ministers could put talks in motion quickly.

In the meantime, new Phare programmes could help Macedonia's small business and private sector, as well as democratic institutions. But Commission officials say Phare would not bring substantial new funding, because Skopje is already receiving 25 million ecu per year from Phare in humanitarian aid.

Macedonia was offered a full seat in two international organisations last week, boosting its reputation. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), at which FYROM had been an observer, took it in as the 54th full member. The Council of Europe also accepted Skopje's application.

On 9 November, FYROM will formally become the 38th member state of the Council, best known for its human rights convention.