BRUSSELS – Members of the European Parliament Eduard Kukan (EPP, SK), Knut Fleckenstein (S&D, DE), Ivo Vajgl (ALDE, SI), who are also rapporteurs for Macedonia, and EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, issued the following statement today on the situation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia:
“We recognize the parliamentary elections of 11 December as an important step in overcoming the political crisis in the country. This process needs to continue in order to get the country back on the EU integration path. There is no time to lose!
We appeal to all political leaders to find, in full respect of all legal deadlines, common grounds for forming a stable, solid and accountable government. Such a coalition should rally around a strong, inclusive, reformist consensus and inter-ethnic cooperation. All of this is vital to put the country back onto the path of European integration, which all parties have committed to and which the citizens want and deserve. This is a long-term process, which requires that all political parties, who share this strategic objective, work together to make the necessary changes possible. We appeal to all politicians to continue working hard and fast on the implementation of the Pržino Agreement and the Urgent Reform Priorities and to support the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which must have the time and resources to do its job in an independent, non-politicised way.”
(Original text of the statement can be found on: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170125IPR59817/statement-on-the-situation-in-the-former-yugoslav-republic-of-macedonia)