Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: implementation of reforms within the framework of the High Level Accession Dialogue and promotion of good neighbourly relations

Since 2009, the Commission has recommended, in its annual Enlargement Strategy Papers, based on the analysis in the accompanying Progress Reports, that accession negotiations be opened with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The present Report is a response to the Council Conclusions of 11 December 2012 which stated:
"With a view to a possible decision of the European Council to open accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Council will examine, on the basis of a report to be presented by the Commission in Spring 2013, implementation of reforms in the context of the HLAD, as well as steps taken to promote good neighbourly relations and to reach a negotiated and mutually accepted solution to the name issue under the auspices of the UN."

This Report, covering the six months since the most recent Progress Report, is divided into two sections. The first part assesses the implementation of reforms in the context of the High Level Accession Dialogue (HLAD) which the Commission had established in March 2012, assessing additional progress under the headings of the HLAD agenda. The second part of this Report assesses steps taken to promote good neighbourly relations with all neighbouring countries, with a particular emphasis on relations with neighbouring EU Member States. The Report is based on information gathered and analysed by the Commission, including input provided by the country and neighbouring EU Member States.

During the reporting period a political crisis arose out of events which took place in the Parliament on 24 December 2012 following the adoption of the 2013 annual Budget under controversial circumstances. The forcible removal of opposition MPs and journalists from the Parliament chamber by security personnel resulted in the largest opposition party boycotting Parliament and threatening the resignation of their MPs as well as a boycott of the local elections. The two-month political stalemate which followed affected the functioning of Parliament, which continued to operate without opposition presence, and the organisation of local elections. The parties overcame the deadlock through an agreement on 1 March which enabled a return to normal functioning of parliament and the holding of local elections, as well as commitments to key strategic priorities and reforms. The 1 March agreement requires, moreover, a Memorandum of Understanding affirming the cross-party consensus on, and commitment to, the country's strategic objective of EU and Atlantic integration and the establishment of a Committee of Inquiry.

This Report covers the effect of the political stalemate and the content of the 1 March agreement, to the extent that this has had an impact on the implementation of HLAD-related reforms or on progress in good neighbourly relations. The October 2013 Progress Report will, in its usual assessment of the functioning of institutions, assess the overall implementation of the commitments in the 1 March agreement and the work of the Committee of Inquiry into the events of 24 December 2012 and, where appropriate, indicate necessary follow-up.

EUR-Lex: COM(2013)205: Follow the progress of this report through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2013:205:FIN

ESO: Background Information: Press points by Commissioner Štefan Füle following the fourth High Level Accession Dialogue (HLAD) in Skopje http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-press-points-by-commissioner-stefan-fule-following-the-fourth-high-level-accession-dialogue-hlad-in-skopje/

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