Toespraak Olli Rehn over voortgang van hervormingen in Macedonië (en)

SPEECH/07/69

Commissioner responsible for Enlargement

Conference on the Ohrid Framework Agreement

Conference on the Ohrid Framework Agreement

Skopje - 8 February 2007

Prime Minister, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

I am happy to address you today at this conference. It comes at a crucial moment. Less than 14 months ago, your country was recognized as a candidate country. It was the result of determined efforts undertaken by you to establish the necessary conditions for a stable democracy based on rule of law.

The agreement signed in 2001 in Ohrid was key in this context. The commitment of its signatories and its progressive implementation brought you out of an acute crisis. It allowed for reconciliation and for the building of mutual confidence. It transformed the state by taking full account of the multiethnic and multicultural character of your country.

Instead of falling into the instability that has plagued so much of the recent history of the Balkans, this country moved in the direction of stability. Your were moving towards becoming a model for this region, and could count on the full support of the EU.

Over the years since 2001 you took a number of important constitutional and legislative steps. Laws were enacted to extend the use of the non-majority language, reform the public administration and decentralization. The principle of a fair representation of the different communities in public institutions was enshrined in the Constitution. Cultural rights have been affirmed and minority rights enhanced through changes in the voting rules in the Parliament.

The importance of this process can not be underestimated. The principles underlying the Ohrid Framework Agreement have now been embedded in the constitutional and legal framework of the country.

However, the process needs to be sustained. This is what I would like to discuss with you today. Sustained reforms are essential not only for your European aspirations. It is also important in view of the challenges the Western Balkan has to address.

EU is a community based on shared values. The respect for democracy, rule of law and respect for minorities is the glue that holds EU together. It is an essential criteria of the accession process. No candidate country can be allowed to start accession negotiations until this criteria is fulfilled.

In the context of your country some of these values have taken form in the Orhid Framework Agreement which makes it a core part of the political criteria. Let me mention two that are particularly important;

First, decentralization is key for a functioning and stable democracy. It needs to be implemented in such a way that it respond to the citizens' expectations for further improvements in the management of public services, for instance in education, and local development. Last year we could note improvement in some public services. It is now the responsibility of both the central government and the municipal authorities to sustain their cooperation to allow for promoting local democracy and local development.

The second value is respect for minorities. In this country the Badinter mechanism provides for guarantees for the non majority communities. It has been essential for building confidence and credibility. The mechanism reflects your country's history and political reality.

The developments over the last year are therefore alarming. It seems that the constructive and determined approach from all parties now has given way to obstruction and lack of faith. You need to turn this development around. You can ill afford political stalemate. It is therefore essential that the spirit of the Orhid agreement is endorsed by all. Confrontation must be turned into dialogue, obstruction into constructive criticism. In concrete terms the Badinter mechanism must be fully respected and all parties need to respect and work within the democratic institutions you have taken such efforts in setting up.

One year ago President Barroso and I came to Skopje. We celebrated with you the recognition by the European Council of the candidate country status of your country. That was a new step in our rapprochement, allowed by the country's achievements between 2001 and 2005 and the significant progress made in the process of stabilisation and association.

The decision taken by the EU was also a tribute to all those who contributed actively to make possible the progress in the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement and the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

We were hoping then, as much as your own citizens, that the progress would accelerate.

However, rather than accelerating, the pace of reforms has slowed down. Even if some changes have been put in place, such as in the electoral process, the legal framework of the judiciary and the police, or in parts of the business environment, there are key reforms which remain to be implemented.

Progress is needed in the organisation and functioning of the police and the judiciary, in the strengthening of the administration, in the fight against corruption and organised crime.

Further progress is also needed in the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, for instance to pursue the objectives of equitable representation of the communities in the public administration and public bodies. In that respect, further work is needed on the strategy you have devised so that it is in line with the objectives of the Agreement. More generally, the respect of the letter and spirit of the Agreement will remain crucial for the European journey of the country until its accession to the EU.

Progress in the implementation of our Stabilisation and Association Agreement is also crucial. It will promote rule of law, good governance, fair competition, accountability. The adoption of European standards and practices will modernise the country and have a positive impact for all citizens.

The EU reform agenda is broad and far reaching. The reforms needed can be complex, and sometimes politically costly. However, they will have to take place because they are needed to pursue your path towards a modern democracy and a growing economy. They will provide greater opportunities for all, individually as well as collectively.

The journey towards the EU is a demanding one. It raises many challenges which can solely be addressed by a country if its population and its political representatives stand united, "together", as proclaims the motto chosen by the European Commission to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome founding the European Communities.

This will request leadership, mutual trust and shared objectives and priorities.

Today, it implies constructive dialogue aiming at finding solutions which allow the country to move forward. Political leaders must demonstrate their sense of responsibility towards their country and work together in a spirit of consensus in order to catch up on time lost. I am convinced that the civil society can also play a very important role in this respect to encourage both vision and dedication to the reforms.

You will find the EU by their side in order to support and, if necessary, facilitate that process.