BRUSSELS TO FIND A WAY FOR MACEDONIA'S ACCESSION TALK TOGETHER WITH ISLAND
National.
The name dispute is a bilateral issue that should not have an effect on Macedonia’s Euro-integration. This is also the official stance of Brussels, which should provide assistance in finding a solution, followed by the beginning of Union accession negotiations, Slovenian Member of European Parliament (MEP) Jelko Kacin told MIA.
Kacin was asked to comment on the statement of Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule at the Western Balkan Summit at Brdo-pri-Kranju, saying that bilateral disputes should not influence the Euro-integration process.
“This is Brussels’ official position and we keep reiterating this in all EU institutions. Greece’s blockade on Macedonia is a bilateral row, which prevents Macedonia from obtaining a date, but we are seeking for solutions”, states Kacin.
The Slovenian MEP announced he would send a letter to Commissioner Fule and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in an attempt to settle the issue.
“We should use the opportunity of Iceland’s accession talks date so that both countries start negotiations”, added Kacin.
According to him, it is in the region’s interest that another Western Balkan country began EU accession talks as soon as possible, which is good for all neighbors, including Greece, taking into consideration its deep political, social and economic crisis, but also in EU’s benefit.
Pertaining to EU having a plan B if the name row is not settled soon, MEP Kacin said reserve plans must always exist, with the main message being dynamics in the process.
Commenting the absence of Serbian President Boris Tadic from the Slovenia conference, he assessed the Western Balkan region is not held hostage by Serbia.
“If we are referring to hostages, then Belgrade holds itself hostage”, said Kacin, who is the EP Rapporteur for Serbia.
He stressed EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy’s failure to attend the summit was poor judgment, whereas the absence of Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, whose country currently holds the EU Presidency, “is related to the country’s focus on June’s Western Balkan summit in Sarajevo”.
[Mia]
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