European House Skopje

The Stabilisation and Association Council (SA Council) between the Republic of Macedonia and the EU held its fourth meeting on 24 July 2007. The meeting was chaired by Mr Antonio Milososki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia. The Presidency of the Council was represented by Mr Manuel Lobo Antunes, State Secretary for European Affairs of Portugal. Mr Jan Truszczinski, Deputy Director General of the Commission's Directorate General for Enlargement, and Mr Dimitrij Rupel, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia as well as the EU Special Representative and Head of the Commission's delegation to the Republic of Macedonia, Erwan Fouéré, also participated in the meeting. The SA Council recalled the December 2006 European Council, which had noted that the candidate status of the Republic of Macedonia was a recognition of reform achievements and had called on the country to accelerate the pace of reforms in order to progress towards the goal of movi

European Parliament will vote Thursday on the report on Macedonia's progress toward EU membership, a day after the lawmakers gave their opinion on the issue. "The progress toward EU is in the hands of political leaders in the country. I believe that the Government and the Parliament will take into consideration the recommendations in the European Commission's report," the EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told the MEPs during the debate. He called on the government and all political parties in Macedonia to focus on continuation of reforms instead of focusing on the starting date of EU accession talks. "Dialogue is basis for achieving stability and functioning of institutions," Commissioner Rehn said, adding that Brussels expects full implementation of political dialogue between VMRO-DPMNE and DUI. He pointed out that despite the last year's slowed down progress, the country can return this year to the reform-determined track. Commissioner Rehn also c

The European Commission has finalised its plans for assistance to the candidate and potential candidate countries for 2007-2009. It adopted on June 20 the strategy for Croatia under its Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, after earlier adopting similar strategies for the Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo. The overall indicative amount for the period for all these countries totals €3.96 billion. Financial assistance to those countries aims to help them enhance political and economic reform and development, on their path towards EU membership. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said: "The crux of the matter in the EU's enlargement process is that the political, economic and institutional reforms lead to results on the ground, in each and every country. They have to deliver in this challenging process. But they are not alone, the EU stands by their side with political support, technical advice and substantial financ

The Broadcasting Council of Macedonia faces political pressures, EU Ambassador Erwan Fouere said on Wednesday. The Council undergoes problems of political nature, however, it pledges to maintain independence and cope with such tendencies arising from the lack of institutional dialogue, Ambassador Fouere said during his visit to the Broadcasting Council. Broadcasting Council quotes Ambassador Fouere as saying that during the upcoming meeting of the Stabilization and Association Committee in Brussels, he would personally pledge for preservation and strengthening of the independence of the Broadcasting Council as a regulatory broadcasting authority

EUROPE DAY 2007 Date Time Place Event Participants Partner organisation 26 April Thursday 12:00 – 13:00 Holiday Inn Skopje Press Conference on the Europe Day celebration activities Ambassador Erwan Fouéré European Movement, JEF, EBA, Youth for Youth 29 April Sunday 11:00 – 11:30 Sport Hall ”Rasadnik” Opening of the Karate Tournament Patrick Paquet, First Secretary (EU Mission), Children Karate Associations Karate Association 1 May Tuesday 10:00 – 11:00 Berovo Lecture: "The History of EU" Ambassador Erwan Fouéré, JEF members + other NGOs Young European Federalists (JEF) 2 May Wednesday 12:00 – 14:00 Veles Panel Discussion: "European standards for protection of environment: challenges or end to the agony of Veles" Ambassador Erwan Fouéré, SEA representative, local authorities, NGOs, general public European Movement 10:00 – 11:00 Skopje Official Opening of XIII European Students' Symposium on Environment EuroEnviro 2007 Ambassador Erwan Fouéré, local authorities, s

On 9 May 1950 in Paris, the French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman read to the international press a declaration calling France, Germany and other European countries to pool together their coal and steel production as "the first concrete foundation of a European federation". The declaration, issued against the background of the threat of a Third World War engulfing the whole of Europe, is considered to be the first move towards the creation of what is now known as the European Union. Mr Schuman proposed the creation of a supranational European Institution, the High Authority, to look after the management of the coal and steel industry, the very sector which was, at that time, the basis of all military power. The countries which he called upon had almost destroyed each other in a dreadful conflict which had left after it a sense of material and moral desolation. During the Milan Summit in 1985, the EU leaders decided to celebrate 9 May as "Europe Day".

On May 6th 2007, the French will elect their new Président de la République replacing the Monsieur Jacques Chirac ruling the country for 12 years and paving the way for new and fresh flow of ideas in French and EU foreign affairs. The primary reason for the EU’s and candidate countries high tempered interest in French election is that its outcome will determine the future of the Union itself. Macedonia, as a candidate country sees its own interest in the French presidential election through the lenses of the enlargement process and the process of institutional reform without which it seems that the enlargement can not continue. Many EU representatives including the enlargement commissioner Mr. Olli Rehn repeat the guaranties given that all Western Balkan countries have a future in the EU. Even so, these statements were given with prudence: that the speed of enlargement must take in account the EU’s “absorption capacity”, later renamed into “integration capacity”1. Following elections

"We need to see a convincing track record of reforms on the ground", including police reforms and the fight against corruption and organised crime, said European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn when he met Gabriela Konevska-Trajkovska, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Integration of the Republic of Macedonia in Brussels on April 16. The Commissioner described the talks as friendly and constructive, and he re-confirmed the EU perspective for the country. "There is a need to improve the political climate in the country, and to demonstrate a clear commitment to the Ohrid framework agreement", said Rehn. He insisted that developing understanding and dialogue between the government and the opposition is essential to ensure the proper functioning and stability of key institutions. "I encourage all parties to make further efforts to find compromises, to walk the last mile, so that this political dialogue which has been intensified in last couple of days

Making your voice heard Citizens’ Perspectives on the Future of Europe adopted in 27 EU member states “Ever since the constitution was voted against in the Netherlands and France, we have gradually understood that the EU is a top-level-project. A project that is not supported by the citizens will not survive. That is why the European Citizens’ Consultation process is so important,” said Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy, in a video conversation with the participants of the Swedish citizens’ consultation last weekend. Parallel to the celebrations of 50 years of the Treaty of Rome, the weekend of 24-25 March saw the fourth and final round of the European Citizens’ Consultations with national consultations in 10 EU-Member States. Over the last two months about 1500 randomly selected citizens from all EU member states reflecting the diversity of the European population came together in 27 national con