Macedonia – a forgotten country?

 

IVAN TOROV

That’s how it is. Life isn’t fair, and reality demands a compromise. These are the words that Erwen Fouréré, the long-standing EU ambassador to Skopje, a witness and occasional actor in Macedonia’s troubles, addressed to his hosts, warning them that the time to reach a deal with Greece over Macedonia’s name was fast running out.

A month from now the EU will decide whether Macedonia, after five years of candidate status, will be given the date for starting negotiations on finally joining the EU. In Macedonia itself, however, there is a gloomy atmosphere of unfulfilled expectations. It is as if the Macedonian government and public have come to accept that Macedonia will draw the short straw in the ‘wrestling match’ at the EU summit in June.

It is most likely, indeed, that the setting of the date will again be postponed, hopefully until the end of the year, less optimistically for an indeterminate period. The formal explanation will be the slowing down, indeed end of reforms; but in reality it is the failure to reach an agreement with Greece over the country’s name. The conflict with which Greece has burdened Macedonia, and which until quite recently was merely a ‘technical problem’ that did not affect Macedonia’s progress towards EU and NATO membership, has in the meantime grown into an ‘unavoidable obstacle’. Or rather, into Brussels’s political ultimatum. It is true that the issue of the name does not appear as a formal condition; but when it comes to choosing between a state that already is a member (Greece) and a state that wishes to become one (Macedonia), there will be no dilemma. Despite sympathy for Macedonia and irritation with the Greek economic assault on EU stability, Macedonia will get short shrift. The offence will be chalked up against the weaker side, although everyone knows full well that the stronger one, which sets the rules, has been playing a highly destructive game.

Though Brussels officials hope for some turnaround by mid-June, its chances are nil. The Macedonian-Greek negotiations on Macedonia’s name reached a dead end several months ago, so that a change in the coming weeks would be truly miraculous. The long-standing American UN mediator in this conflict, Matthew Nimetz, does not believe in a sudden change either, and has been postponing the restart of negotiations. For sure, at the beginning of the this year there was a hope that ‘Republic of Northern Macedonia’ might, under certain conditions, be acceptable to both sides. But it vanished the moment the Greeks ‘explained’ that the change of name from Macedonia to Northern Macedonia would oblige the country to change also its national identity, its language, its constitution, its national anthem and its state emblem and flag – a recasting in fact of the whole of its history and culture.

The Macedonians interpreted this Greek ‘shopping-list’ in the only possible way – as the introduction of a Greek protectorate. The idea consequently, and logically, died even before it had been officially endorsed. A section of Macedonian public opinion, and certain political circles in Skopje, were initially positively inclined towards the name ‘Northern Macedonia’. But when the Greeks upped their demands, the Macedonians responded by reviving the old idea of a referendum on the name, the negative outcome of which is beyond doubt.

Greece responded to the idea of ‘letting the people decide’ by accusing Macedonia of blocking its ‘cooperation’ and ‘good will’ in the search for a ‘mutually acceptable compromise’. In fact, Greece is in no hurry (though one might think differently, given the seriousness of its crisis), all the more so because it has finally and without much effort won the support of EU leaders for its irrational national campaign, despite the fact that its economic and financial policy has brought into question the very survival of the euro and of the European Union. Athens can allow itself the luxury of simultaneously relaxing its chronic inter-state tensions with Turkey, thus winning the sympathy of Brussels and Washington, and assuaging European frustrations with the consequences of the Greek economic collapse. Turkey is more important to the international community than Macedonia, and the Greek prime minister can therefore afford to risk the wrath of Greek nationalists at his dialogue with Turkey. The tightening of the screw on its ‘unreasonable’ Macedonian neighbour comes as a recompense to the nationalists, at a time of real danger that the domestic crisis might unite the social and nationalist revolts into a powerful anti-government and anti-EU movement. This is why the so-called red line of Greek national interests is being maintained against the small and weak Macedonia, a line that Prime Minister Papandreas will not dare to cross.

But whereas Greece, therefore, may be in no hurry to reach a settlement with Skopje (not least because the very maintenance of mutual tensions causes serious internal trouble for Macedonia), one would expect Macedonia itself to be keen to arrive at a settlement that would unfreeze its current status as a forgotten country, and put it on the path to membership of the EU and NATO. This, however, does not appear to be the case.

The long and exhausting ‘war’ with Greece has created a situation of near-complete lethargy, with elements of indifference. The economic crisis is deepening, investors are avoiding the country as too risky, the social situation is increasingly hopeless, reforms have practically ceased, the prospects for Euro-Atlantic integration are receding – all this is creating anew a deep political crisis characterised by growing tensions between the country’s Macedonian majority and Albanian minority.

Instead of intensifying diplomatic activity, the government headed by Nikola Gruevski (VMRO- DPMNE) seems to have opted instead for a tactic of silence combined with anticipation, guided by a strange logic that time is in fact on Macedonia’s side. The idea being, it seems, that Europe will in time tire of Greek nationalist belligerence and arrogance, if not because of the Greek tactic of systematically undermining Macedonia, then because of the catastrophic effect of Greek economic mismanagement on European stability. Pursuing a tactic of ‘mutual attrition’, Macedonian nationalism in the form of a ‘return to antiquity’ has been offered as a response to Greek nationalism (though the intensity of the search for a new ancient Macedonian identity has somewhat diminished). Convinced that truth and justice is on its side, the government appears no longer interested in finding friends and allies abroad, and it is here that the main reason for the current near-total marginalisation of the country’s international position should be sought.

An ideological war is instead being waged against internal critics, with the government using its media to indict ‘traitors’, those who ‘favour selling the national spirit and dignity’ (i.e. argue for continuation of dialogue with Greece), and this is turning the Macedonian political scene into an arena of permanent confrontation. There is a real danger that, in the absence of a speedy internal political agreement, Macedonia could easily revert to the situation that pertained on the eve of the armed conflict between the authorities and mutinous Albanians in 2001.

Prime Minister Gruevski is no longer preoccupied with Athens, Brussels and Washington, but with the fanning of domestic conflict in order to hold off the Macedonian and Albanian political opposition and to create a suitably nationalist atmosphere for winning a new mandate at the increasingly likely early elections. With this in mind, the critics of the Macedonian government agree that it is, in fact, not in its interest to reach a compromise with Greece. Gruevski’s coalition government, involving the leader of the Albanian national community Ali Ahmeti, is on the point of collapse, as both sides contest the Ohrid Agreement that ended the war in 2001, the ruling party arguing that it gave too much to the Albanians while the Albanians believe that federalisation of the state offers the only way out of the crisis. The situation has become so confused that no one in Skopje can confidently predict what will come first: early elections with a new political configuration, or a new conflict between Macedonian and Albanian nationalists.

Macedonia, which back in the 1990s was a bright spot in the sea of Balkan troubles, appears today to be losing a sense of orientation, having been left to itself through its own but primarily through international fault.

In a situation of growing external pressure on Macedonia to capitulate on the name issue, with Greece sticking to its maximalist demands, and with Brussels irresponsibly willing to sacrifice Macedonia by letting it drown in internal troubles and using it as small change in Balkan trade-offs, few in Skopje can argue with any degree of confidence that the European idea retains its earlier dominant appeal. The growing impression is rather that the Euro-Atlantic enthusiasm is being slowly and steadily exhausted.

 
Translated from Peščanik website by Bosnian Institute,

KUDA IDE MAKEDONIJA?

Međunarodni institut za bliskoistočne i balkanske studije (IFIMES) iz Ljubljane, pripremio je analizu aktuelne političke situacije u Makedoniji povodom priznanja nezavisnosti Republike Kosova i odbijanja najnovijeg kompromisnog prijedloga ambasadora Matthewa Nimitza o imenu „Republika Sjeverna Makedonija“. Iz opširne analize izdvajamo najvažnije i najzanimljivije dijelove.
MEĐUNARODNO IZOLIRANA DRŽAVA
Prijevremeni parlamentarni izbori u Makedoniji održani su 1.juna/lipnja 2008.godine. Sredinom oktobra protječe prvih 100 dana nove vlade (druge po redu) premijera Nikole Gruevskog (VMRO-DPMNE) sa novim albanskim partnerom Demokratskom unijom za integraciju (DUI/BDI). Iako je praksa, da „medeni mjesec“ za jednu vladu traje 100 dana, za vladu Gruevskog to traje već od jula/srpnja 2006.godine, kada je prvi put dobio izbore, tako da se slobodno može reći, da su to „medene godine“.
Makedonska opozicija odnosno Socijaldemokratska stranka (SDSM) poslije posljednjih prijevremenih parlamentarnih izbora, potpuno je poražena. SDSM je ostala i bez predsjednice Radmile Šekerinske, bivše potpredsjednice vlade za europske integracije u čije vrijeme je Makedonija, decembra/prosinca 2005.godine dobila status kandidata za članstvo u EU. To je promjena već drugog predsjednika SDSM u periodu manjem od četiri godine.
Ukoliko se uspoređuje nedavna prošlost odnosno kako je bilo prije jula/srpnja 2006.godine i kako je sada dvije i pol godine kasnije, Makedonija izgleda kao međunarodno veoma izolirana država. Poslije grčkog neprincipijelnog veta na članstvo Makedonije u NATO, Makedonija vjerojatno ni ovu, treću godinu po redu, neće dobiti pozitivan izvještaj za početak pregovora za punopravno članstvo u EU. Ako su za NATO bili „krivi“ Grci, za EU definitivno je kriva Makedonija, koja nije ispunila osam kriterija EU plus još jedan, deveti kriterij, kojeg je sama dodala, a to su bili prijevremeni izbori, koji su bili najlošiji i najnasilniji organizirani parlamentarni izbori do sada. Rezultati su poznati.
LUZERSKA POLITIKA NIKOLE GRUEVSKOG
Poslije junskih/lipanjskih izbora, Gruevski je kao svog novog koalicionog partnera izabrao Demokratsku uniju za integraciju, umjesto Demokratske partije Albanaca (DPA/PDSh), koja je bila koalicioni partner Gruevskog u prve dvije godine njegove vladavine. Prema izbornom rezultatu, kojeg mnogi osporavaju zbog neregularnosti izbora, DUI s 18 poslaničkih mjesta u parlamentu, daje još komotniju poziciju Gruevskom za dvotrećinsku većinu i moć da radi što i kako hoće. Dominantnu poziciju Gruevski je iskoristio još u toku prvih 100 dana vladavine, donoseći „svjetlosnom brzinom“ preko 150 zakona u Parlamentu sa podrškom DUI, koji su se tokom glasanja ponašali kao da učestvuju u popularnom kvizu “tko želi biti milijunaš” – rubrika „brzi prsti“.
U toku ovih brzopoteznih glasanja prošlo je i nekoliko kontraverznih zakona, kao zakon o upotrebi albanskog jezika, zakon o energetici, zakon o lobiranju, poslovnik o radu parlamenta, koji je donesen bez učešća opozicije u parlamentu. Stranke opozicije su bojkotirale rad Parlamenta svaka zbog svojih razloga. DPA zbog nepriznavanja izbornog rezultata, a SDSM i koalicioni partneri zbog hapšenja popularnog gradonačelnika grada Strumica, sada aktualnog v.d. predsjednika SDSM Zorana Zaeva. U međuvremenu, SDSM vratila se u parlament, poslije abolicije Zaeva od strane predsjednika države Branka Crvenkovskog. DPA je bojkotirala rad parlamenta sve do priznanja Republike Kosovo 09.oktobra/listopada 2008.godine.
Ponovo su aktualizirana četiri haaška slučaja, koja su vraćena na rješavanje makedonskom pravosuđu. Tako je DUI ponovo u centru događanja, čija su dva poslanika otvaranjem ovih slučajeva „nastradali“. Zbog mira i sudjelovanja u koaliciji ukinut im je poslanički imunitet, tako da će se redovno pojavljivati na sudskim ročištima u vezi haaškog slučaja „Maltretiranje Mavrovskih radnika”, koji je ustupljen makedonskom pravosuđu. Drugi snažniji udar na DUI odnosi se na poslanika DUI Hisena Xhemailija (ujedno je i lider Mladog foruma DUI), koji mora da se javi u skopski zatvor na izdržavanje 30-dnevne zatvorske kazne. Međutim, problem je u tome, da Xhemaili nije dostupan pravosudnim organima. Policija ga traži ali ga još uvijek nije pronašla. Ali Ahmeti i DUI i dalje šute. Ahmeti odgovara, da ima pametnijeg posla nego da se bavi time gdje se skriva njihov poslanik. Predsjednik opozicione DPA Menduh Thaçi je u pravu kada kaže, da Ahmeti nema samo politički problem, već i moralni, jer ne može da sankcionira i izruči svoje ljude kao što je urađeno u slučaju “Maltretiranje Mavrovskih radnika”, a istovremeno zaboravljajući da postoji otvoren sudski slučaj “Rukovodstvo ONA”, gdje se Ahmeti nalazi prvi na listi. Da li će se Ahmeti predati pravosudnim organima, kad se otvori njegov predmet, kao što je ubijedio svoje suradnike, ostaje da se vidi.
A Demokratska unija za integraciju? DUI se ponašala i još uvijek se ponaša kao „uspavana ljepotica“. Jedina reakcija na ovakvo ponašanje vlade i parlamentarne većine t.j. VMRO-DPMNE bila je kolumna potpredsjednice DUI Teute Arifi, koja je na ilustrativan način opisala ponašanje Gruevskog nazivajući ga “Demokraturom”. Arifi u svojoj kolumni u skopskom dnevnom listu “Dnevnik” poručuje Gruevskom “da je ovakvo ponašanje, potrošilo DPA, možda potroši i DUI, ali sasvim je sigurno, da će da potroši i Republiku Makedoniju”. Poslije iznošenja tog stava DUI je ponovo zaspala, a Teute Arifi nema više u javnosti, da se tako snažno suprotstavi luzerskoj politici Gruevskove vlade. Gruevski u cijeloj priči, koja je povezana s koaliranjem sa DUI, podiže svoj rejting kod glasača-Makedonaca. Gruevski bi vjerojatno, da je znao, da će mu biti tako lako vladati sa DUI, sigurno još 2006.godine uzeo DUI u vladu. Gruevski je naučio lekciju, a da li će je naučiti i DUI još uvijek nije izvjesno. Analitičari smatraju, da je neučestvovanje DPA u aktualnoj vladi, sačuvalo stranku od potpunog marginaliziranja na političkoj sceni, kao što je u ovom slučaju izložena DUI. NEDOSTATAK POLITIČKE KULTURE
Početkom septembra/rujna na makedonskoj političkoj sceni rodila se nova politička partija Albanaca zvana “Demokracija e Re” (Nova Demokracija), na čijem je čelu bivši potpredsjednik DPA Imer Selmani. Njemu se priključilo još par bivših ministra iz DPA, koji su bili u prijašnjoj vladi. Prvi utisak je bio, da oni napuštaju partiju samo zato što su izgubili svoja ministarska mjesta poslije prelaska DPA u opoziciju. Prvih nekoliko dana izgledalo je, da se DPA raspada po svim šavovima, tri poslanika su je napustili, dva potpredsjednika i desetak općinskih ogranaka djelomično ili u cjelini. Poslije mjesec dana situacija je drugačija, to nije puno uzdrmalo DPA. Ono što je razočaravajuće u DPA je to, da se poslije odlaska ljudi oko Imera Selmanija, očekivalo, da DPA pokaže javnosti da ima nove, mlade i sposobne ljude, koji će partiji produžiti politički život. Umjesto toga DPA za potpredsjednika stranke, pored veterana stranke Iljaza Halimija, vraća Mevlana Tahirija, čovjeka, koji je u 17 godina političkog pluralizma prošetao kroz sve moguće albanske partije u Makedoniji, uključujući i DPA, koju je napustio posle parlamentarnih izbora 2006.godine i priključio se Bardhulu Mahmutiju i njegovoj BDSh (Demokratska Unija Albanaca), zbog istih razloga kao i Selmani i njegova ekipa. Na izborima 2008 BDSh nije osvojila ni jedan procent glasova. Tri mjeseca kasnije, Mevlan Tahiri dolazi na mjesto potpredsjednika DPA, koja je ovim potezom pokazala da nema (ili ih ne vidi) novih ljudi u stranci.
A „Nova Demokracija“ još se etablira, vrijeme će pokazati, dali je formirana da bude samo u vladi kao supstitut DPA ili će da ponudi realne političke i ekonomske ideje kao i dostignuća zapadne evropske političke kulture, koje partijama u Makedoniji (makedonski i albanskim) nedostaje.
PREDSJEDNIČKI IZBORI 2009
Poslije odluke aktualnog predsjednika Makedonije Branka Crvenkovskog, da se neće kandidirati za drugi mandat za predsjednika države, počele su špekulacije oko toga, ali ne tako intenzivne, ko bi mogao biti kandidat vladajuće stranke i opozicije za predsjednika države. Crvenkovski će, poslije isteka mandata, najvjerojatnije preuzeti lidersku poziciju u SDSM.U javnosti se spominju neki od mogućih kandidata za predsjednika. Zoran Stavrevski, potpredsjednik Vlade i vjenčani kum premijera Gruevskog, bivši gradonačelnik Skopja Risto Penov iz redova opozicije, i Srgjan Kerim, donedavni predsjedavajući generalnom skupštinom UN-a. Kerima bi vjerojatno htjeli i jedni i drugi, a možda i Albanci. Kod Albanaca zasada nema nikakvih najava ko bi bili mogući kandidati za izbor predsjednika države.
PREMIJER GRUEVSKI NIJE PRIZNAO NEZAVISNOST KOSOVA?
Makedonija je konačno priznala Kosovo, i to dan poslije usvajanja srpske rezolucije u UN-u. Priznanje Kosova od Makedonije bio je dugo očekivani potez ne samo za Kosovo i Albance u Makedoniji već i SAD i neke druge zemlje članice EU. I sve se to desilo veoma brzo.
Po prvi put su albanske političke stranke u makedonskom Parlamentu (DUI, DPA i Nova Demokracija) zajednički nastupile i predložile rezoluciju, koju je Parlament usvojio kasno uvečer, a pola sata kasnije uslijedila je odluka vlade o priznanju. Pored drugih obrazloženja zašto je Makedonija priznala nezavisnost Kosova, stajalo je i to, da je Vlada prihvatila preporuku Parlamenta preko donesene rezolucije, da prizna nezavisnost Kosova. Opozicija je optužila vladu, da se za odlukom o priznanju Kosova skriva iza Parlamenta, jer sukladno Makedonskom ustavu i zakonu, Vlada je ta koja priznaje i uspostavlja diplomatske odnose sa drugim zemljama.
Prema informacijama Međunarodnog instituta IFIMES makedonska Vlada je već isti dan dok je još trajala debata o rezoluciji u Parlamentu, rano popodne donijela odluku da prizna Kosovo, ali sačekala je da Parlament usvoji Rezoluciju i poslije je objavila odluku o priznanju Kosova. IFIMES raspolaže pouzdanom informacijom, da točku dnevnog reda na sjednici Vlade na kojoj se odlučivalo o priznanju nezavisnosti Kosova, nije vodio premijer Nikola Gruevski, već zamjenik premijera za evropske integracije Ivica Bocevski. Navodno premijer Gruevski nije htio, da vodi sjednicu, sa obrazloženjem da ima druge obaveze. Ova informacija pokazuje, da Makedonska vlada nije namjeravala, da uskoro prizna Republiku Kosovo, ali očigledno nije mogla izdržati vanjskopolitički pritisak, što je bilo za očekivati. Ovaj slučaj pokazuje, da Makedonija funkcionira samo pod pritiskom i nikako drukčije. Makedonija je sebe dovela u situaciju, da zbog međunarodnog političkog pritiska prizna nezavisnost Kosova, a ne zbog toga što je Kosovo politička realnost na Balkanu i da je priznavanje nezavisnosti Kosova u interesu Makedonije i regionalne stabilnosti. Tako je i DPA prekinula bojkot i vratila se u Parlament.
Analitičari smatraju, da je Gruevski ne učestvovanjem prilikom donošenja odluke o priznanju Kosova još jednom ponizio, prije svega, svog koalicionog partnera DUI i njenog lidera Ali Ahmetija što ilustrativno govori kakav položaj u aktualnoj koaliciji ima DUI.
TEŽAK PERIOD ZA MAKEDONIJU
Međunarodni institut IFIMES ocjenjuje, da Makedoniju u narednom periodu čeka prilično teško razdoblje na političkom, prije svega vanjskopolitičkom i ekonomskom planu. Najnoviji paket prijedloga ambasadora Matthewa Nimitza za rješavanje spora sa Grčkom ne ulijeva nadu da će se to brzo završiti, posebno poslije odbijanja prijedloga od premijera Gruevskog. Da li će Makedonija konačno zaploviti u mirnije i stabilnije vode, zavisi od političkog vodstva, koje je prema bitnim nacionalnim i državnim pitanjima toliko razjedinjeno, da to ide samo na štetu Republike Makedonije. Priznanje Kosova je prvi korak ka tom stabilnom putu. Slijedeći korak bi bio konačno zatvaranje neracionalnog spora sa Grčkom. Predsjednički i lokalni izbori, koji su predviđeni za narednu godine, dodatno će zagrijati makedonsku političku scenu.
http://www.ifimes.org/default.cfm?Jezik=Si&Kat=10&ID=405

Republic of Macedonia - Accession partnership

The Council adopted a regulation amending regulation 533/2004 on the establishment of
partnerships in the framework of the stabilisation and association process for the Western Balkans
(6686/08).
The regulation is amended following the decision of the European Council in December 2005 to
grant the status of candidate country to the Republic of Macedonia.
Consequently, the name of the partnership with Republic of Macedonia will be changed from "European partnership" to "accession partnership".

The Republic of Macedonia must accelerate the pace of reform

Internal political tensions in 2007 have diverted the Republic of Macedonia's political institutions away from the priorities of European integration and delayed reform, according to EU foreign affairs ministers at their December 10 General Affairs and External Relations Council. The Council encouraged all political parties to deepen political dialogue and cooperation, especially on interethnic relations, so as to be able to move ahead in the EU accession process.
Reforms should be speeded up in judicial and public administration and in the fight against corruption, and police reform should be implemented faster. Unemployment and the general business environment also needed attention, said EU ministers. The Council also issued an appeal to the Government to "make renewed efforts, with a constructive approach, to find a negotiated and mutually acceptable solution on the name issue with Greece, under the auspices of the UN, thereby contributing to regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations."
The EU-the Republic of Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee, meeting in Brussels on 26-27 November called for accession negotiations to start as soon as possible, and encouraged the government, the opposition and all the stakeholders in the Republic of Macedonia to do their utmost to carry out the necessary reforms to fulfil the necessary criteria. Among its other conclusions, it noted "the difficulties faced by citizens of the Macedonia due to the non-recognition by Greece of its passports, and the situation linked with the name issue; calls on both parties to honour commitments as outlined in the Joint Declaration annexed to the text of the EC-the Macedonia Visa Facilitation Agreement to re-assess the issue, as a matter of priority".
The EU is to abolish as from 1 January 2008 a double-checking system on imports of steel products from the Republic of Macedonia.

Тhe Report of the European Commission оn the progress of Macedonia Published

Today in Brussels, the European Commission published the Report on the Progress of the Republic of Macedonia achieved in 2007. In addition to the report two more documents have been published, as well - Accession Partnership (previously – European Partnership) and Enlargement Strategy 2007.
Through the Report, the European Commission monitors and assesses the progress made by the Republic of Macedonia in the previous year. In the Accession Partnership, the European Commission gives recommendations for the upcoming reforms. The Enlargement Strategy is a document which EU enlargement policy is explained.
On the following links you can find the declared documents:
European Commission Progress report on the Republic of Macedonia 2007
Council decision on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with the Republic of Macedonia and repealing Decision 2006/57/EC
Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2007-2008

Eastern Europe risks never catching up with western states

Central and Eastern Europe states are in danger of never catching up with Western Europe, as the long term economic growth potential in the region is undermined by a widening human capital gap with the west of the continent, a report has warned.

The report – called the European Human Capital Index – ranked eastern EU members and candidates on their ability to develop and sustain their human capital, and was released by the Brussels-based Lisbon Council think tank on Monday (15 October).
Since the collapse of communism, economic growth in the former communist states is far above growth seen elsewhere on the continent, narrowing the difference in economic wealth between the two halves of the continent.

But researchers now fear that a continuation of this performance is unlikely, unless certain problems are urgently addressed.

"The entire study shows a closing of the gap in the last 15 years, but now it could widen again," Peer Ederer, the lead author of the study warned during the report's presentation.

"An economy does no longer only have to be efficiency-driven. If you want to be able to compete with Western Europe and Asia, you have to become an innovation-driven economy," he said later on.

In particular, the report highlights the region's shrinking population, continuous brain-drain, chronically high unemployment and inadequate investment in education and skills - especially in workers aged 45 or more – as the main problems.

"Stop early retirement schemes, reduce unemployment, stimulate part-time employment. Keep them in the job, get them in the job, in every way possible," Dr Ederer said.

"The demographic outlook is [also] not good," he added. "In Eastern Europe, you can find the lowest birth rates, basically in each of these countries. (...) Combine the demographic data with the brain-drain that continues to happen, and you have a very bleak picture."

The report also criticises Eastern European policy makers for failing to invest in people older than 45 years – about one-thirds of the population, thereby creating a "lost generation".

Examining the school systems, the report praised central and eastern European countries, but warned that they are still far away from the best.

"Secondary schooling systems are more or less on par with Western Europe, but when compared to [South] Korea and Finland, most Western European countries should also perform better."

Still a chance
The EU members that are doing well – Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Lithuania – still have a small chance of achieving Western standards of living within the next two decades, according to the report.

Slovenia is roughly on a par with Greece, Italy and Portugal, which were measured in a similar report last year.

But the members that trail the index' ranking – Slovakia, Bulgaria and Poland – are likely to remain stuck in relative poverty for a very long time when compared to the EU average.

Turkey, a candidate member, is the only country with a young and growing population, something which could, according to the authors, play a key role in addressing Europe's human capital needs.

They mentioned that by 2050, an estimated 19% of the European active workforce would be Turkish, almost equal to the working population of all other Mediterranean countries taken together.

Croatia, another candidate member, trails the list, just behind Bulgaria and Poland.

Human capital is considered an important factor in determining whether the EU will become a knowledge-based economy, an economic goal it has set itself.

Small Business Ideas

Small Business Ideas You Can Run From Home
If you have a desire to start a home-based business, you’re part of a growing trend. As a matter of fact, one commonly cited statistic is that a home-based business is started every 11 seconds. As of the year 2000, there were 28.3 million home based businesses in the United States, up 2.1 million over 1999. Home-based businesses tend to have a higher than average survival rate as well, and of course, nothing beats the convenience of working from home.
You’re convinced—so where do you start?
What is the best home-based business?
The answer, of course, is that it depends. What are your particular talents and strengths? Many home-based small business owners got their start by leveraging an existing hobby into a business.
This is probably the best approach, so you would do well at the start to take stock of your talents, abilities and resources, and ask if there some way you can profit from these. With a slew of “home-based business ideas”, you will find that most of them generally break down into three categories: craft, professional and service.

Do you like working with your hands?
If so, you might like craft type businesses where you can create products or services that people can use. Some examples would be chimney sweeps or upholstery services, both of which are easily operated from home.

Janitorial services can be run from home as well, and a few corporate clients can get you enough monthly business to net you a decent income. Another lucrative line of work would be a home inspection service. You would need to study to obtain credentials as a home inspector, but you could earn a lot of money, and the overhead is fairly minimal.
Professional businesses run the gamut from computer programmer, desktop publisher, graphic designer, video service, etc. In short, anything that demands the use of a computer to deliver an informational product or service to the end user.
This would certainly include income tax preparation, resume writing and public relations as well. If you’re more of the intellectual and creative type, and you have good computer skills, this might be up your alley. You might even want to pursue one popular business nowadays—set up your own online Ebay store. You could, for example, set up an export business in this manner.
By having a presence on Ebay, you’ll have truckloads of eager buyers who will be willing to bid on your goods. You won’t need to worry about how to attract “traffic” to your online shop—as you would if you had your own separate web site. With Ebay, the traffic is there, from all over the world! It’s just a matter of having the right goods to sell.
Do you like working with people, and helping them out any way that you can? You might want to consider service businesses. These would include popular staples in this variety like a food catering service, which you could easily begin and advertise by word of mouth. You might also consider childcare services if you enjoy taking care of children.
To do so, you should first contact state and local governments to find out the requirements in your area. Another good source to consult is the National Association for Family Childcare. If you fancy yourself good at sales, you might want to consider becoming a sales representative. Selling is not for everyone, but sales reps are one of the most popular home-based businesses in the United States.
You will be working to sell on behalf of a manufacturer or wholesaler. Begin by examining your current list of contacts. If you know professionals in a certain industry, you can find out what products or services they need and then help them obtain them. Again, selling is not for everyone, but if you’re serious, begin by reading some good books on sales.
For further information on becoming a sales representative, contact the Manufacturers Agents National Association.
Do what you love, and the money will follow. This adage is as true as ever when it comes to a home-based business. Technology has made starting your own home-based businesses more convenient and lucrative than ever. Honestly appraise your strengths and personal qualities, and you will be sure to find your perfect niche.
Small Business Ideas For Cash
Most budding entrepreneurs who want to start their own business find it hard if not impossible to get a government grant (United Kingdom) or (Small business loan (USA), however, if you live in Moscow chances are you'll be paid for your small business ideas.
Apparently Moscow's ageing small business entrepreneurs is a concern to City Hall and to address the problem they have approved a program to give 20,000 young entrepreneurs the opportunity to start their own businesses. This will be supported by sponsorship events.
Moscow's City Hall has set aside $4.7 million over three years to fund the small business ideas initiative.
If your have a business idea and you happen to live in Moscow consider yourself lucky to be in a position to be paid to start your own business – this opportunity is rare in the UK and USA.
See this small business idea article for more information.
UK Entrepreneurs With Flair Are USA Bound To Develop Their Business Ideas
tudents that exhibit entrepreneurial flair are to be sent to the USA to make the most of their business ideas at the expense of British taxpayers.
Under the plan that was announced by the Chancellor Gordon Brown, the government wants to add summer schools for budding entrepreneurs to the requirement that children should receive five days a year of education that promotes entrepreneurialism.
Enterprise teaching in schools, which is backed with £60m of funding from the department of Education, was introduced to encourage young people to act on their business ideas. However, head teachers are concerned because they cannot see how they can fit the subject of entrepreneurialism into an already busy curriculum. They are also concerned about the lack entrepreneurial skills among teachers to adequately teach the subject.
How Do You Teach Students To Be Entrepreneurs?
Teaching students to be entrepreneurs in a traditional school setting that is more concerned about teaching to pass exams and working for an organization instead of working for yourself poses many challenges.
Heads, Teachers and Industry, an organization that builds business links with education, said many schools lacked the skills and knowledge to put the plan into action. HTI is launching a scheme for business people to be seconded for five days to help with enterprise programmers in schools.
Anne Evans, chief executive of HTI, said: "young people can be put off by business as they see it as boring but at the same time they think IPods are exciting. We need to demonstrate to young people that business is not just about figures but also the products and services they use everyday. It's about motivation rather than teaching them about profit and loss."
It is crystal clear that neither the government nor teachers have the slightest notion about what it takes to be an entrepreneur. For a start, let's forget the term entrepreneurialism because it's meaning is not helpful to the nuts and bolts of starting a business and successfully steering that business through the ups and downs of real life challenges where you learn to survive on a daily basis.
Learning to be an entrepreneur by reading books written by academics who have never been in business, who have never sold anything "door-to-door, nose-to-nose and toes-to-toes" is completely useless; a complete waste of time and good taxpayer's money.
So How Can You Teach Students To Be Take Risks And Be Entrepreneurs?
Learning from books written by entrepreneurs who have been successful at starting and running their own business can help as well being mentored by these same entrepreneurs. Encouraging and assisting entrepreneurs with their ideas can also help as this puts the onus of success on the budding entrepreneur. This is where the seeds of business ideas can germinate and with some watering, can develop into viable businesses.
Networking with other entrepreneurs is a MUST if you want to leverage your time and resource. This is an area that entrepreneurs cannot learn is the classroom. Yet, this area alone can make a massive difference to anyone in business, particularly small businesses.
Finally, we get down to the heart of what drives entrepreneurs and individuals wanting to be in business for themselves rather that opting for the safer less stressful option of working for a company in a paid job. What motivates some people to take risk and start their own business is a question that has different answers, depending on the entrepreneur you pose the question to.
If the government and schools want to really encourage young people to be entrepreneurs then they should first seek out entrepreneurs of all colours and backgrounds and get then to set the curriculum and provide the framework. That's what I would do if I wanted to foster entrepreneurialism among young British students.
What do you think?

Stress Management As A Small Business Idea
Stress management or stress relief is a highly searched keyword and therefore presents opportunities for small business entrepreneurs who are looking for small business ideas.
Search any of the major search engines and you'll find many searches around the keyword "stress management", "stress relief" and hundreds of other keywords, all related to people who are searching for information and ultimately solutions that are stress related.
Also consider this article on "Fear of stress discourages would-be entrepreneurs" . Based on a survey carried out in London, the majority of young Londoners would rather work at a paid job than start a business because of their fear of stress.
Imagine, if stress is such a major concern, it also offers opportunities for small business entrepreneurs who are savvy enough to spot an opportunity. Instead of reinventing the wheel in coming up with products and services that have not been tried and tested, here we have a ready market with tons of potential customers who are already looking for information on stress management and stress relief, plus going by the survey carried out by YouGov of young Londoners, the market can be segmented into different niches.
All it takes is to carry out research into the causes of stress, how to relieve and prevent the causes stress and to develop products (home study courses, videos, CDs, stress relieving music and audio, etc) that solves the needs of an already hungry market.

I hope this brief article will act as a stimulus and that you can see the possibilities of starting a business with this one small business idea.
Small Business Ideas For The Future
Two small business ideas based on new trends that small business entrepreneurs can profit from.

Small Business Idea #1
I was interested to read a survey by the research company DBM who were asked to look at which professional jobs or small businesses ideas are likely to be in greatest demand in the next ten years.
The survey appeared in Fortune magazine in March 2005 and here are the conclusions:
1. The greatest increase in demand by far will be for people who know how to clean up 'spaceship earth'. This is because an increasingly healthy-conscious public is eager to find environmental engineers who can prevent problems rather than simply control those that already exist. Indeed, it is anticipated that over the demand for environmental engineers will grow by at least 50%.
2. The next key area of growth is anticipated to be network systems and data com analysts followed by personal financial advisors.
3. Number eight on the list was PR Specialists.
If you are trying to decide what small business to start, it might well be worth your while to have a look at this survey. If there's going to be a demand for environmental engineers, there is also going to be demand for the businesses that employ them.

Small Business Idea #2
Starting A Business Based On New Trends
Speaking of new trends, when you get a moment why not check out a company called NatureWorks based in Nebraska?
The company runs a factory that can produce 300 million pounds of a polymer called Gylatic acid, derived from bacteria that feed on corn kernels. What is so big about this? Poly-lactic acid is basically a biodegradable corn plastic that degrades, within weeks, into water and carbon dioxide in the humid, 140 degrees heat of a compressed landfill site.
With escalating oil prices, corn plastic is much cheaper alternative. Also, with growing concern about the damage being caused to the environment, biodegradable corn plastic is better for the environment.
Corn plastic is going to be a giant thing in the years ahead. Furthermore, it is clearly going to offer eco-entrepreneurs some extremely exciting opportunities.
Looking for a Good Business Idea?
For an almost-can't lose chance for success, combine two fundamental rules for making a small business work:
1. Discover something you can do better than anyone else.
2. Figure out how to sell your product or service cheaper than anyone else.
Start by asking yourself, "What product or service am I unhappy with?"
If something is bothering you, chances are others feel the same way. If the feeling is widespread enough - and you have a way to solve your own problem - you may have a multi-million-dollar business idea.
Then ask yourself, "How can I provide my better product or service for less than the competition?"
That's what the founder of Save-A-Lot supermarkets did. He noticed that stores like Wal-Mart and Kroger had no interest in going into blighted (see Word to the Wise, below) urban neighborhoods. So, by taking on a market that the bigger chains ignore, The Wall Street Journal says, Save-A-Lot has "quietly become one of the nation's most successful grocery chains."
Save-A-Lot is part of a boom in low-frills supermarkets known as "hard discounters" that are undercutting the Wal-Marts and Krogers by stocking mostly their own brands and focusing on high-inventory items. (A typical Wal-Mart, for example, might stock 30,000 items, while a Save-A-Lot might stock 3,000.) The stores are sold as franchises. (75% of them are run by licensees.) Already, Save-A-Lot has 1,229 stores in 39 states and is adding more than 65 stores this year alone.
Over the weekend, see if you can come up with an small business idea for your million-dollar business. Start by thinking about all the products and services you regularly use. Have you ever said something like, "If only that widget had a _____, it would be so much easier to use"? Or "If only that company would _____ instead of _____, it would make my life so much easier"? That could be your breakthrough idea. And if you can figure out how to provide your better product or service at a better price than the competition, you're ready to leap into the wonderful world of entrepreneurship.

Could Copywriting Be the Business Idea of Your Dreams?
Have you ever dreamed of owning a lucrative small business that lets you work anywhere you want - anytime you want - and gives you plenty of time off to travel, spend time with family and friends, or to pursue your hobbies?
If so, direct-response copywriting could very well be the business of your dreams.
Why does copywriting pay so well? It's simple supply and demand.
Thousands of direct-response marketers across America and around the world are desperate for strong advertising copy. But there are so few writers to meet that demand that the good ones can pretty much write their own tickets.
If you can read, write, use a computer, and dial a telephone, you can learn this lucrative skill and make a very healthy living at it.
I'm living proof that it's true.
In the 1970's, I was a 20-something high-school dropout. I had a wife, a two-year-old daughter, and a baby on the way. My 12-hour-a-day job paid minimum wage, and we were struggling to pay the bills and put groceries on the table.
One day, as I was scouring the local paper for better job opportunities, I spied a tiny "help wanted" ad that intrigued me. A small-business owner needed someone to write ads for him.
"What do I have to lose?" I asked myself. "I can write. How hard can this be?"
My prospective employer wasn't exactly blown away by my experience and credentials. In fact, I expected the guy to have me thrown out of his office. Instead, he gave me an opportunity to prove my skills by writing a short sales letter. I poured my heart and soul into it, and a week later I had a new job - as a copywriter.
That's when everything changed for me. In the months and years that followed, my income soared to $100,000, then to $250,000, to $500,000, to $1 million ... and ultimately to nearly $3 million in a single year.
I'm not telling you this to brag - only to show you that if a high-school dropout like me can do it, you can too.
Even if you believe you have no natural talent for writing, you can still do very well. Good copywriting sounds like natural conversation - so if you can talk, you already have all the innate knowledge needed to be a successful copywriter.
Here's how you can get started on a profitable copywriting career:
1. Purchase a good home-study program. Really study it. Complete all of the exercises and become fully immersed in the skill of copywriting. This is how you learn the basics of what is considered good direct-response copy - the simple techniques that move people to action.
2. Get a deeper understanding of the basics of direct-response marketing by reading books such as Bob Bly's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Direct Marketing. Learn the industry lingo and understand the nuts and bolts of the direct-marketing business. You must understand the inner workings of the business so you fully understand how your copy fits into the equation. And it doesn't hurt to speak the language.
3. Study the masters. Study sales copy written by pros like Gary Bencivenga, Dan Kennedy, Gary Halbert, John Carlton, and others. Sign up for and read their e-newsletters, visit and read the archives on their websites. Learn from the best.
And after you have done all of the above and are ready for your first assignments (and for the cash to start rolling in) ...
4. Pick a niche in which you have some interest and knowledge and start looking for clients. My niche has always been health and financial publications. Your niche might be business opportunities or real estate.
Whatever your interests, I'll bet there is a product or publication just waiting for your newfound copywriting skill to sell it.
Narrowing your focus on a niche market will insure that you meet your goals faster. It's a huge direct-marketing world out there; don't waste your time running around trying to be everything to everyone. Write what you know.
There's one more thing you must do to make your sales copy successful.
Good ad writers simply explain all the benefits a product will bring to the customer's life - and they make a great living by doing that.
But great ad writers know that the vast majority of purchases are made for emotional reasons. So they identify the strongest emotions the customer already has concerning the benefits the product offers - or the lack of them ... and then they speak directly to those emotions.
If you can do this one thing, you can be one of the great ones - and a life of high-paying assignments and amazing freedom will be yours!
By Clayton Makepeace
NB: Clayton Makepeace is a copywriter and direct-marketing consultant with over 33 years of experience and more than $1 billion in sales generated for his clients.
Small Business Ideas To Generate More Good Ideas
Small business Innovation and the generation of ideas is currently all the rave. But this is not confined to small US businesses. In the UK the government and big companies are also searching for ways to establish a corporate 'ideas culture'.
Small business innovation conjures up images of entrepreneurs taking existing products and tweaking them for a ready market of customers who are looking for just that solution not currently being met.
Contrast this image with corporate innovation that conjures up images of white-coated boffins in laboratories and driven young things in the creative media industries. But some large companies, together with the government, are keen to sell a different image. Innovation they argue is about piecemeal improvements to processes and work organization, a culture of democratic tweaks.
While small business ideas and innovation is entrepreneurial driven and tend not to reinvent the wheel but instead address gaps in established and proven customer demand, large corporate innovation depends on how creative is the workforce.
New research commissioned by Vodafone, the telecommunications company, paints a mix picture. There's good news and bad news. The good news is of 2,000 employees interviewed, 28% say they generate an idea every week. That translates to 27m productive ideas into circulation for companies; based on just three serviceable in any year. More than two-thirds of respondents believe their managers are likely to listen to new business ideas.
Another striking finding is that micro or small businesses (companies with up to five employees) workers are three times more likely to originate an idea every day than in companies with more than 250 staff. Sectors such as media and marketing are much better at generating ideas than others such as transport, manufacturing and utilities.
The bad news is that employers' attitude for creativity is low. More than half of employees say they are not encouraged to come up with new business ideas, while 49% believe they work for organizations that are just no good with new business ideas.
It does appear that the traditional techniques of managing innovation - notable suggestion schemes, brainstorming and away days are regarded with suspicion. Consequently employees keep business ideas locked up in their heads. Furthermore, 79% are offered no financial incentives to generate business ideas, and 60% are given no time.
So while the government and big companies struggle with encouraging innovation and ideas from within, smaller companies are thriving in these areas. The Internet has created a treasure chest of information and successful prototypes to model, copy and enhance. Small Business ideas can be tested on the cheap. If one does not work, move on the the next one at speed. No committee or board decision is required.
There are successful small companies that have built products on the 'coat tail of success' of large companies by researching markets and developing in demand solutions. Why reinvent the wheel and spend vast sums in creating a market when a large company with fat budgets has done all the hard work for you?
So the advice to large companies when it comes to generating business ideas include:
1. It is vital to offer incentives for generating ideas
2. It is important to have a way of capturing and implementing good business ideas
3. It is necessary to realize that creativity cannot b e planned
May 19, 2005

UK Small Business Ideas are all Around You
UK small business ideas form as a result of many different life experiences. Some individuals were born with the entrepreneurial spirit and their drive towards self-employment began at a very young age. Some people come up with UK small business ideas because they’re tired of working for others. Sometimes, owning their own businesses makes sense for those who have specialized talents. And there is a growing group who make this type of move after being laid off from their jobs or as a result of not being able to find suitable employment.
The explosion of the Internet is making it possible for UK small business ideas to take root right from home. With more and more global business being transacted on the Internet every day, more and more people are trying to get their own piece of this action.
Perhaps even you are considering this type of move towards self independence. Striking out on your own is both exciting and stressful. It’s definitely not something for the faint of heart. You’ve got to be willing to invest double the amount of time and effort into your business to get it off the ground and to keep your UK small business ideas generating income. If you’re working on your own, especially in the beginning, you’ll have to play all roles: sales and marketing manager, negotiator, bookkeeper, administrative assistant and any other position required by your business.
Oftentimes, your ideas will actually result in a UK small business where you’ll need to hire others. That’s a major accomplishment but one that doesn’t necessarily mean your life will get easier. Employees expect to be paid on a regular basis. It’s up to you to ensure they do or they will move on. It may make sense for you to hire contractors whom you can pay by the hour or the project.
If you know you want to be your own boss, and you’re ready to explore UK small business ideas, there are several sources available to help with your search. The press lists business opportunities currently for sale in a particular area. To look at businesses for sale throughout the UK visit Daltons weekly . Here you’ll find pubs, guest houses, catering companies, shops and many other business opportunities.
If you feel you need a bit of assistance when starting out on your own, other viable UK small business ideas are franchises. Take a look around you – there are some 600 different businesses in the UK that actually are franchised. The costs of owning a franchise and the services you get from the franchise in return for those costs does vary between franchises, so you need to do your research. To begin your search for a franchise opportunity in the UK visit www.british-franchise.org.
Hopefully this information has got you thinking of ways you can turn your ideas into a successful UK small business venture. When you’re ready to turn your ideas into reality, you’ll find plenty of companies and branches of government ready to assist you in your pursuit!

Small Business Ideas You Can Start Today
Many visitors to Small Business Resource web site are looking for small business ideas. I know that because of the number of searches with the words "small business idea". Also the tracking software tells me key information. It’s no coincidence that we currently rank very highly in www.google.com for the keyword "small business ideas".
So, here are some business ideas you can start and run from home:

1.Backyard / Garden Ponds/ Water Gardens
These are increasing in demand. Homeowners love the sound of splashing and cascading water and having fishes in the garden. These ponds are very easy to build. There are kits that can help with easy construction. Pumps keep the water going and lights are available to keep them looking their best at night. Water gardens are very much in demand.

2.Market Your Arts And Crafts
If you have jewellery, art, photography, distress furniture, make baskets, etc, there are several books available that can help you learn how to market your art and crafts. Sell them at fairs, or sell them directly to stores or even to catalogue-owners.

3.Handyman
Are you handy around the house? Wouldn’t be nice to get paid for it? There are probably plenty of people in your neighbourhood or own town that would love to pay for your handyman services. You might think it’s simple to install a light socket, put up moulding, change a doorknob, patch a screen, repair a broken door hinge or put up some bookshelves, but most people do not. Promote your small business via word of mouth, fliers or a small advertisement in your local newspaper.

4.Special Events Video
Do you enjoy making videos of special gatherings for your family and friends? Why not get paid for it? Take your video camera and start a small business recording special events around town for your neighbours and business associates. Your jobs could range from a corporate retirement dinner, a school picnic, a wedding, a special town club event, a marathon, a local band’s gig, and you name-it. You might need to pick up a tripod or some special light to start this business, so save the receipts. These supplies are tax deductible.

5.Resume Service
If you have a good computer and a laser printer, consider your own resume service, there are lots of people who don’t know how to prepare a resume. You can prepare nice-looking resumes to land a new job. If you already have a computer, you can start straight away. Place ads and post fliers on your new service. Go to your local bookstore and check out the books and software on resume preparation. Contact businesses in your area that might be making people redundant. Ask if you can work with the personnel department to provide resumes to these individuals.

Next week I’ll briefly cover other small business ideas you can easily start from home like, teach your craft, newsletter, knife sharpening, birdhouse building and hometown guide.
So, here are some business ideas you can start and run from home: