EU blij met verloop verkiezingen Macedonië, maar hervormingen blijven nodig (en)
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – The European Commission on Monday (6 April) welcomed the way Sunday's presidential elections were conducted in Macedonia, but insisted the former Yugoslav country should still do more before it is let closer to the EU.
"I welcome the overall satisfactory conduct of the presidential and municipal elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn stated in reaction to the elections.
"Most international standards have been met represent [and this is] an important step forward for democracy in the country. I congratulate the citizens of the country for this democratic achievement," he added.
Gjorge Ivanov, 49, the ruling conservative party's candidate (VMRO-DPMNE), became Macedonia's new president on Sunday after winning a landslide victory over his Social Democrat rival Ljubomir Frckoski.
Turnout was estimated at around 42 percent – just over the 40 percent threshold needed to validate the result.
The turnout was particularly low among the country's ethnic Albanian population – which accounts for around one forth of the total population – with the highest turnout in a municipality inhabited in majority by ethnic Albanians reaching no more than 16 percent, according to Macedonian news agency Makfax.
The commission had previously repeatedly indicated that these elections would be the "moment of truth" for Macedonia and called them the "key outstanding condition" for Skopje to be allowed to start EU accession talks.
Violent incidents marked the general elections in the country last year, killing one person and wounding several others in an ethnic Albanian area.
In Monday's statement however, Mr Rehn underlines that the Balkan country has also to speed up reforms in other fields before it is allowed closer to the bloc.
"Now that the elections have been completed, it is time to step up reform efforts in order to meet the benchmarks which have been set," the commissioner stated.
"Important work remains in order to deliver results on judicial reform, the fight against corruption and reform of the civil service," he added.
Mr Rehn also expressed his "conviction" that with enough efforts, the needed criteria could be fulfilled in time for the yearly report the commission issues every autumn on the progress of EU candidates and potential candidates towards membership of the bloc.
"A recommendation on the start of accession negotiations [with Macedonia] will depend on the results achieved," he stressed.
Name issue
Macedonia has been an official EU candidate since 2005, but has yet to start membership talks.
In addition to its shortcomings in some areas, a dispute with Greece over its name is also blocking the launch of negotiations.
"Macedonia" is also the name of a northern region of Greece and Athens believes allowing Skopje to use the name will open the way to territorial claims. It also believes the appellation is part of its own historical heritage.
With recent moves under Macedonia's nationalist prime minister Nikola Gruevski – such as naming a main highway after Alexander the Great – having contributed to fuel the dispute, Mr Ivanov has said that one of his priorities as president will be to improve relations with neighbouring Greece.
"Our first task will be to resolve the name issue with our southern neighbour Greece," Mr Ivanov told Reuters.
"I am sure we can find common interest and compromise," he added.
For his part, Mr Rehn stressed that "good neighbourly relations, including a resolution of the name issue, remain essential."
"Therefore I trust that with the fresh mandate for the leadership of the country, renewed efforts will be made in order to achieve good progress in this field."
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