A reward from Brussels, cold shower from Berlin

EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn and EU foreign policy chief Federika Mogherini yesterday delivered what they promised to our country – they sent us a recommendation for negotiations with the Union. It remains now for the member states to put a seal on them, i.e. to confirm, a process that will need to be pulled through with the last buzzer, since time is ticking away for the present European Commission.

Hahn was very clear yesterday that our recommendation is crystal clear, that there are no new conditions and that member states should decide on the negotiations as soon as possible, because this will not be just a signal for us, but for the whole region. Shortly before the report was released, a statement from MP Günter Krehbaum from the ruling CDU in Berlin cam, saying it is unlikely that it will happen before October, because the recommendation must go to the German Bundestag, which since it has a session from 6 to 9 June, and there will be no time for debate because the recommendation should also go through several commissions. The same message came from the CDU MEP, Elmar Brok. The next EU summit will take place on October 17, which is dangerously close to the date when the new European Commission starts its mandate, and most likely when the government in Greece will be headed by Kiriakos Mitsotakis, who opposed the Prespa deal.

Anyhow, yesterday, EU Ambassador Samuel Zbogar optimisticly said “we will see”, and Hahn announced that the Commission will make everything for Macedonia and Albania to get talks with the EU. Journalists also mentioned the option of making a decision at a ministerial meeting in July, although the EU agenda has no announcement that such a meeting taking place. This is the second recommendation for our country since the EU has announced that the first intergovernmental conference will be held by the end of this year, which actually means the beginning of negotiations.

European Commissioner Hahn, presenting the Progress Report, which is now is not even called a report, less one on “progress” (some countries go backwards), said “Northern Macedonia is a great example of reconciliation in the region,” that it delivered reforms and signed the historic agreement with Greece and previously with Bulgaria. Among other achievements, he mentioned: the strengthening of the judicial system, the formation of a new Anti-Corruption Commission, intelligence sector reforms, well realized elections, and the return of the principle of controlling the work of institutions. Among advances, he praised the opposition for its co-operation regarding the laws.

Hahn explained the problem of giving a negotiation date by listing technical problems, that reports were prolonged due to European elections, so now the time is short to pass the whole procedure in countries that require the decision to pass in their national parliaments. “I can not predict what will be decided,” Hahn replied to the question of whether it would be possible to reach a decision on Northern Macedonia, adding that this should be done as soon as possible and that the “huge political efforts” of our country be rewarded . “I’m sure that member states are aware of their responsibilities,” the EU Commissioner assured in the end.

Regarding the dilemma about whether the decision on Albania will be separated if it blocks our recommendation because it is in a political crisis, Mogherini made a decisive statement:

“Our message is clear – starting negotiations with Macedonia and Albania. They are ready, that’s our assessment”, she said while adding laconically, “well, what country did not have a political crisis.” In the end, she said that the EC’s assessment of Albania was in fact “not political, but technical”.

Asked who are now friends of the enlargement and whether there are those who will push Macedonia and Albania, Mogherini pointed his finger in the neighbors, saying that in recent years she has seen remarkable unity in the region. “This can be a historic turning point for the region,” Mogherini said, apparently leading his last battle for what will be her political legacy from the work in the EC. “It is now the EU’s order to accomplish its part,” she said after the EU Commissioner also said it.

Asked who are now friends of the enlargement and whether there are those who will push Macedonia and Albania, Mogherini pointed a finger with the neighbors, saying that in recent years she has seen remarkable unity in the region. “This can be a historic turning point for the region,” Mogherini said, apparently leading her last battle for what will be her political legacy from the work in the EC. “It is now up to the EU to do its part,” she said after the EU Commissioner said the same.

The EP rapporteur for Macedonia, Ivo Vajgl, previously presented the mood in Brussels, saying that now it is not about criteria or principles, but about promises and commitments taken by the EU.

“Northern Macedonia should be rewarded, otherwise the EU will lose any credibility, not only in this country, but also in the region,” Vajgl said.

As a curiosity, in one of the documents the EU published yesterday, the old name i.e reference, sneaked through – the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

What are the main evaluations fom Brussels?

The report consisting of over a hundred pages, states that North Macedonia continues to make fundamental changes in an inclusive manner and in an open political atmosphere and that it provides visible results in key areas such as the judiciary, the fight against corruption and organized crime, in the reform of the security services and the public administration. Also, the culture of compromise in politics has been improved, and the Prespa Agreement has passed with tremendous support from those who voted.

The main message for the SPO is that it has confirmed its leading role in high-profile corruption investigations and that authorities should accelerate efforts and show that fighting corruption is a priority, as it prevails in many areas and is a cause for concern. It is noted that the verdicts of cases of the SPO have been handed down, that it is negotiating its status and it is said that “it is essential to continue the establishment of legal responsibility for the crimes” that came out of “the bombs”. At the same time, it is required to ensure that the legal responsibility for the bombs continues to be determined independently of the ongoing negotiations on the prosecution process.

Regarding the public administration, it says steps have been made to address political appointments, but it is still necessary to stop its politicization. The work of the new Anti-Corruption Commission was praised, it is noticeable that the political elite shows greater tolerance to criticism in the media, but the professional standards in MRTV need to be improved. While praising the work of the SEC as an impartial and professional, a more sustainable composition in it is required, as well as cleaning up the voter rolls. Regarding  April 27, it says there is no amnesty for those who organized the raid in parliament.

In the economic remarks, it says the structure of spending is worsened and more ambitious fiscal consolidation is needed.

Slobodanka Jovanovska