Conclusies eerste Stabilisatie en Associatie-Raad EU-Macedonië (en)

C/04/263

Brussels, 14 September 2004

12336/04 (Presse 263)

Joint Press Release

EU-former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Stabilisation and Association Council, Brussels 14 September 2004

The Stabilisation and Association Council (SA Council) between the European Union (EU) and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia held its first meeting on Tuesday 14 September 2004. The President of the Council, Mr Ben Bot, Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, led the EU delegation. Dr Javier Solana, High Representative/Secretary General; Mr Nicolas Schmit, Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Immigration of Luxembourg; and Mr Michael Leigh, Deputy Director General in the Directorate General for External Relations of the Commission, also participated in the meeting. Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva led the delegation of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

This first meeting of the SA Council, following the entering into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the parties on 1 April, marked a new stage of enhanced relations and co-operation between the EU and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The SA Council stressed the European vocation of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and recalled the decision by the European Council to request an Opinion from the European Commission on the country's application for EU membership. The EU stressed the importance for the Government to move on the reforms needed and welcomed the adoption by the Macedonian Government of a National Strategy for European Integration and a National Action Plan for the implementation of the European Partnership.

The SA Council reviewed the political situation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The EU welcomed the successful presidential elections and stressed that the next local elections will have to be prepared and conducted in full compliance with the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR. The EU commended progress made in the implementation of the Framework Agreement, but underlined that further work was necessary, notably in the key areas of decentralisation and equitable representation. As far as the broader reform agenda was concerned, the EU noted progress in the macroeconomic stabilisation and in other areas, such as the security sector. The EU acknowledged the importance the people in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia attaches to the perspective of liberalisation of the visa regime. Progress in this field depends on implementation of major reforms in areas such as strengthening the rule of law, combating organised crime, corruption and illegal migration and strengthening administrative capacity in border control and security of documents. The need for further reforms to promote economic development was emphasised.

The EU recalled that the process of decentralisation, including a revision of the municipal boundaries, is one of the central components of the Framework Agreement and a key priority in the European Partnership. It is also vital for real local democracy, economic development, and improved public service delivery. While constitutional provisions regarding referenda should obviously be respected, the EU underlined that further delay in the implementation of decentralisation would seriously jeopardise further rapprochement with the European Union.

The SA Council discussed developments in the Western Balkans. The EU welcomed the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's continuing contribution to regional stability and its active participation in regional co-operation initiatives. The EU also informed on the new European Neighbourhood Policy and underlined that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as it moves closer to the European Union, is encouraged to continue to align itself with established EU positions, also on international issues.

The EU informed on the outcome of the negotiations on the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.