EP-commissie Buitenlandse Zaken stemt positief over start toetredingsonderhandelingen Voormalige Joegoslavische Republiek Macedonië (en)

Accession negotiations with the Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia may be launched soon, following an EP decision today. Members of the foreign affairs committee will vote on Richard Howitt i's draft resolution to urge EU governments to set a final date for the start of negotiations. Concerns remain over the country's ethnic and political instability, the dispute with Greece over its name and difficult relations with Bulgaria. Watch the vote live on our website.

The Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia was granted EU candidate status in December 2005. Since then, there has been no progress in the accession negotiations. The country's improvements have been put into doubt by the latest bout of political and ethnic instability, the opposition's parliamentary boycott and tense bilateral relations with Bulgaria. However, there's still hope for launching the process.

In his resolution, Mr Howitt calls on the Council to set a date without further delay. The British member of the S&D group believes that the start of the procedure will be a genuine step forward, encouraging constructive talks between Athens, Skopje and Sofia, giving an impulse to further reform in the country.