European Forum

Euro Parliament passes resolutions on Macedonia, Croatia and Turkey

Last week the European Parliament (EP) has given a positive overall verdict to Croatia and Macedonia for their efforts in the EU accession process last year, by adopting several resolutions. The Parliament resolution on Macedonia was drafted by Slovenian MEP Zoran Thaler and adopted by 548 votes to 45, with 35 abstentions on 10 February. The Parliament asked the European Council to confirm, at its March 2010 meeting, that it accepts the Commission recommendation that accession negotiations with Macedonia be opened. Macedonia was expecting to acquire a start date for its negotiations with the EU at the December 2009 Council meeting, but Athens blocked the move because of its unresolved name dispute with Skopje over the use of the name Macedonia. Athens insists that Skopje’s formal name, Republic of Macedonia, implies territorial claims against its own northern province with the same name.

Croatia to complete negotiations in 2010
The resolution for Croatia, which was drafted by Austrian MEP Hannes Swoboda and was adopted by 582 votes to 24, with 37 abstentions, noted that accession negotiations for Croatia could be completed in 2010. The motion commented positively on the movement toward a resolution with Slovenia on the bilateral border issue, adding that these efforts "have created the momentum to open all remaining chapters" of the accession negotiations. During the debate on the resolution, MEPs expressed concern that public enthusiasm for Croatia's accession to the EU was decreasing.

Basic improvement still needed
The Parliament also noted areas where improvement was needed in both countries, including rule of law, freedom of expression, good neighbourly relations, treatment of ethnic minorities, women's rights and the fight against corruption and organised crime.

Minority rights in Turkey need more improvement
Separately, the lawmakers also approved a resolution on Turkey -- urging the country to ease local restrictions on civil liberties and settle its long-standing issues with Cyprus. The Parliament urged the country to improve the rights of women and of its Kurdish minority, adopt a new law on increasing press freedom and withdraw its troops from northern Cyprus. "Progress in terms of concrete reforms remained limited in 2009," the resolution said, urging Ankara to "translate its political initiatives into concrete amendments."

Sources: Balkan Insight; SE Times; EurActiv; EU Observer