Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-03-14-Speech-3-051-000"
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"en.20120314.5.3-051-000"2
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"Mr President, in 2011, the country continued to sufficiently fulfil the political criteria, and the Commission therefore reconfirmed its recommendation to open accession negotiations. Nevertheless, we called for the pace of reforms to be intensified, in particular, in the area of freedom of expression, and we therefore welcome the fact that the government of the country is listening to our remarks.
Today’s discussions are evidence of the close alignment of views between Parliament and the Commission on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in particular, and on enlargement policy in general. The discussions have focused on the areas where reform is urgently needed as well as the importance of the European Union fulfilling its commitments towards the country.
I will bring the views expressed here today with me when I travel to Skopje. There, I will meet with Prime Minister Gruevski and his government and have a qualitatively new, structured discussion on the country’s reform process. By taking forward our cooperation in this way, we aim to create a new commitment to reforms and to boost the country’s European perspective. I also believe that a convincing track record of reforms can contribute to creating a positive political climate, which remains essential in order to clear the road for the start of accession negotiations in the near future.
Let me add the following personal remark. I have never failed to call on both Skopje and Athens to find a solution to the name issue through joint efforts and joint compromise. Within that framework, let me make the following two remarks. First, one of the lessons learned from Europe’s sometimes challenging past is that the best way to care about the well-being and future of your own people – citizens – is also to care about your neighbours and the way you are perceived by them. Secondly, another lesson learned is that your – our – identity, while having strong roots in the past, is defined by your – our – present and future steps."@en1
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