The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament passed here on Wednesday an own-initiative report, welcoming the progress made by Macedonia towards EU membership.
The report, crafted by Erik Meijer from the Netherlands, was approved with 55 votes in favor, five against and one abstention.
It hailed the Macedonian government's achievements "in the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement," which deals with the political aspects of inter-ethnic relations in the country.
The members of the European Parliament welcomed the entry into force of the visa facilitation and readmission agreement between the country and the European Union.
MEPs also commended the Macedonian government's economic performance, and the adoption of several crucial laws on prosecutors.
But at the same time, they took note of "continuing discrimination against the Roma community" in the country.
The MEPs regretted the signing of a bilateral immunity agreement between the United States and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, granting exemption from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court in the Hague, which "contradicts EU standards and policies."
The report called on both Macedonia and Greece to increase efforts to overcome the issue name dispute, "that in no circumstances should become an obstacle to the membership of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in international organizations."
It welcomed the bilateral talks between them, mediated by UN Special Envoy Matthew Nimitz, aiming to settle the consistently contentious name dispute.
The name dispute between Macedonia and Greece broke out shortly after Macedonia gained independence from former Yugoslavia in 1991.
Greece has said the country's name, the Republic of Macedonia, implies a territorial claim over the northern Greek province of Macedonia and could destabilize the region.
Instead, it has asked Macedonia to use the name "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", under which the country joined the United Nations in 1993. Otherwise, Greece would block Macedonia's NATO and EU aspirations.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article