Macedonië moet meer doen aan het milieu (en)

25 February 2010

The second civil society joint consultative committee calls on the government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to foster a climate of enhanced trust with social partners and civil society organisations in the country

On 25 February 2010, the EU-The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) held its bi annual meeting in Skopje.

The participants were honoured by the presence of Mr Vasko Naumovski , Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs and Mr Xhelal Bajrami , Minister for Labour and Social Policy, at governmental level, as well as Mr Erwan Fouéré , Head of the European Union Delegation to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and EU Special Representative. Further to the follow-up of the path of the country towards EU accession, JCC members had in depth discussion on economic and social rights issue.

On social dialogue, they welcomed the progress achieved in 2009 in the reform agenda and called for further efforts to be done. T hey regretted especially that limited progress had been made in social policy and employment areas and called for a reinforced social dialogue through effective representation of the social partners and real commitment by the government.

JCC members welcomed the recent draft of an anti-discrimination law adopted by the government, but mentioned that this draft needed to be amended in order to comply with EU acquis. In addition, they recommended that proper communication tools be introduced in order to raise awareness on discrimination within society.

They insisted that the implementation of the provisions of the Ohrid Framework Agreement should play a pivotal role in the reinforcement of democracy and the rule of law in the country.

They also call ed on the European Agency for Fundamental Rights to grant observer status to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, so that it can take part in the organisation and achieve further progress in the field.