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Further Reading

Macedonia & EU

A major goal that the Republic of Macedonia pursues in its relations with the European Union is the early start of EU accession negotiations. Hence, the Government and state institutions committedly work on the fulfillment of the priorities under the 2008 Pre-Accession Partnership. It was expected that in 2009 the efforts undertaken by the Republic of Macedonia would be relevantly valorized, i.e. that the European Commission would adopt a recommendation to start accession negotiations, which will be accompanied by a relevant decision by the European Council.

Membership of the European Union is a strategic interest of the Republic of Macedonia, ever since the country's independence. As of the establishment of diplomatic relations with the EU in December 1995, the Republic of Macedonia has ascertained itself as a reliable partner and a genuine ally of the European Union, not bypassing any of the institutional stages in the rapprochement with the Union- starting with the conclusion of the Cooperation Agreement, over to the Stabilization and Association Agreement and acquiring EU membership candidate status.

Having acquired the EU membership candidate status in December 2005, the Republic of Macedonia embarked upon the key stage in the European integration process. The Decision of the European Council granting candidate status represented a political recognition of the progress the Republic of Macedonia had attained in the reform processes and in building an open democratic society.

The goal of the Republic of Macedonia is to fulfill all European standards pertaining to functional democracy and prosperous market economy capable of assuming EU membership obligations by 2010. The EU accession agenda is reflected in the National Program for the Adoption of the EU Acquis (legislative amendments and short and mid term measures for institutional strengthening), the pre-Accession Economic Program (measures for fulfillment of the economic Copenhagen criteria) and the National Development Plan (investment priorities in accomplishing the development goals of the country). The short-term goal of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia is to attain visible results in the implementation of the European reform agenda that would ensure start of European Union accession negotiations in 2008.

In 1999, the EU agreed to pursue a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Macedonia; negotiations with Macedonia were launched April 5, 2000. The SAA was signed April 2001 and came into force in April 2004. Its trade and trade-related provisions have been in force since June 2001. In December 2005, the European Council granted candidate country status to Macedonia. In March 2008, the Council provided the Government of Macedonia a list of benchmarks to guide Macedonia's preparations to open formal accession negotiations. In October 2009, the European Commission recommended that Macedonia commence EU accession negotiations. In December 2009 European Council deferred discussion of a start date for negotiations.

On 14 October 2009 the EU Commission adopted its annual strategy on EU enlargement. The communication highlights the progress the Western Balkans and Turkey made towards European integration during a difficult year of global economic crisis, and spells out the main challenges facing them in the months and years to come. In the light of the progress achieved, the Commission decided to recommend the opening of negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. In a major step forward for the region, visa liberalisation for the Western Balkans will progress substantially in 2010.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has made important progress and has substantially addressed the key accession partnership priorities. The Commission considers that the country sufficiently fulfils the political criteria set by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993 and the Stabilisation and Association Process and therefore has decided to recommend the opening of accession negotiations. Presenting the enlargement package, Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said: "The enlargement strategy we present today is a demonstration of our commitment to the European future of the Western Balkans and Turkey. In these difficult times of economic crisis, the membership applications of Albania and Montenegro highlight our Union's continued power of attraction and our role in promoting stability, security and prosperity. Iceland's application adds a new dimension to our enlargement agenda."

Visa-free travel for citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia at the beginning of 2010 will bring tangible benefits for citizens. The Commission will table proposals for Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina by mid-2010, provided these countries meet the conditions set.