Friday, 16th October 2009
THE MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SUPPORT MACEDONIA AFTER THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2009 PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
During yesterday’s meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, several MEPs expressed their support for the recommendation of the European Commission for opening the accession negotiations with Macedonia. The MEPs called for visa liberalization for the Balkans, as well as implementation of the Ankara Protocol.
The MEPs, including Mr. Zoran Thaler from Slovenia, Rapporteur for the Republic of Macedonia, welcomed the recommendation of the Commission for opening the accession negotiations with Macedonia.
Mr. Thaler said that the interested parties have to use the window of opportunity, created with the Greek elections and the role of the new Prime Minister, George Papandreou.
The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Mr. Olli Rehn, who attended the meeting, pointed out that Athens should also play its part, and said that the Commission’s recommendation should be accepted unanimously.