Tuesday, 11 January 2011
PRIORITIES OF THE HUNGARIAN PRESIDENCY WITH COUNCIL OF THE EU PRESENTED IN THE MACEDONIAN ASSEBMLY
At a joint meeting of the relevant bodies in charge of EU integration in the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, the Program and the Program and the Priorities for the Work of the Presidency of the Republic of Hungary with the Council of the European Union was presented on January 11th.
Ambassador Erwan Fouere adresses on behalf of the European Union, pointing out that 2011 for Macedoia is a year of anniversaries, a year marking 20 years since its independence and a year marking 10th anniversary since the signing of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, which promotes spirit of unity and reconciliation and is a pillar for promotion of inter-ethnic relations in the state and its full implementation requires dedication of the Government and of every member in the society. Holding a census this year is a key test for the inter-ethnic relations in Macedonia and for the confidence in the institutions. The Government should do its utmost for create a favorable climate for the census, said Ambassador Fouere.
Ambassador Kekesi presented the Program of the Hungarian Presidency with the slogan: "Strong Europe with a Human Touch", focusing on four areas: Growth and employment for preserving the European social model, Stronger Europe, Citizen Friendly Union , Enlargement and neighbourhood policy. Regarding Macedonia, the Ambassador pointed out that "Hungary will support the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia to join the Union in accordance with the Conclusions from the European Council. In this regard, Hungary is prepared to assist the negotiations and to be actively included if all sides require that. We support the negotiations under the auspices of UN”.The Vice Prime Minister in charge for EU-Integration, Mr. Vasko Naumovski, expressed hope that a date for opening accession negotiations will be determined for the Republic of Macedonia during the Hungarian Presidency and that “ the question this year should not be whether the candidate states should become EU member states, but how they can sooner become part of it.”
The JPC Co-Chair, Mr. Alksandar Spasenovski, welcomed the first Hungarian Presidency with the Council of the EU in times when the European Union is faced with two major challenges: dealing with the internal economic crisis and continuing with the enlargement process. Regarding the priorities of the presidency, Spasenovski emphasized that Macedonia finds its place in the last priority on the enlargement. Hungary expresses readiness if the member states decide on a start of negotiations with Macedonia, to make the necessary arrangements as Chair of the European Council, to finally untied the knot in the dispute with Greece and to eliminate the obstacle on a date for negotiations. If this does not happen during the Hungarian Presidency, a question is raised how to maintain and to speed up the dynamics for reforms in a situation when the name dispute is not solved, and for whom do we make reforms: for Macedonia or for Brussels?
Spasenovski underlined that the Assembly will continue to promote the spirit of consensus in practice, both between the position-opposition, as well as among Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Roma, Serbs, Bosniaks, as well as to adopt EU laws on fast track. In that sense, the Joint Parliamentary Committee - Republic of Macedonia and the European Union is the biggest supporter of Macedonia and the EU enlargement process.