EU Candidate status for fYROM - Statement by EU Commissioner Rehn

Statement by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on the European Council decision to grant candidate status to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

"I welcome the decision of the European Council to grant the status of candidate country for EU accession to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The European Commission recommended taking such a decision because the country deserves it on objective grounds. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has achieved the necessary track record in implementing its Stabilisation and Association Agreement and made substantial progress in implementing the political agenda of the Ohrid Framework Agreement. (Stabilisation and Association Agreement is a contractual relation established between the EU and each of the countries of the Western Balkans, it has both a free trade and an important political component.) At this stage, the Commission has not recommended the opening of accession negotiations. As regards further steps, the European Council gave a clear orientation. It will depend on the country's ability to meet its obligations under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and to comply sufficiently with the membership criteria. The Commission will continue to assess the progress made by the country and report on it to the Member States. This decision is also the right political signal to send to the region of the Western Balkans as a whole: the EU has given a clear European perspective to these countries, provided they fulfil the conditions. It proves the credibility of our policy for the Western Balkans and that the EU respects its commitments."

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• EUHR Solana's Statement at 5th Anniversary of Ohrid Framework Agreement signing (12/8/2006)
• Enlargement in the evolution of the EU - Speech by EU Commissioner Rehn (20/1/2006)
• Statement by EUHR Solana on end of EU Police Mission in fYROM (9/12/2005)
• EUHR Solana welcomes EU Commission's opinion on fYROM (9/11/2005)
• EUHR Solana and EU Commissioner Rehn welcome new EU Special Representative and Head of EC Delegation in fYROM (17/10/2005)
• fYROM - Another step forward on the road to EU accession (14/2/2005)