Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

748. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the European Union remains conversant with issues emerging in Macedonia, and the relevance for the European Union in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28957/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The European Union has been deeply worried by the deteriorating political situation in Macedonia for some time, and it has been the subject of high-level meetings of the Council, most recently last month, when both the Foreign Affairs and General Affairs Councils discussed it. Ongoing political instability and dysfunction as demonstrated by the boycott of parliament by the opposition since December 2012 and the wire-tapping scandal have been a cause for concern, and violent clashes in May between police and an alleged terrorist group brought the overall situation to international attention. Talks between the leaders of the political parties have been facilitated variously by MEPS, the EU and US Ambassadors, and Commissioner Hahn, who brokered an initial agreement on 2 June. We view this agreement as a first step to addressing the political crisis: it sets out commitments by the leaders of the four main political parties to democratic principles, good neighbourly relations and good inter-ethnic relations, as well as to tackling rule of law issues.

The EU has urged the political leaders of Macedonia to implement the agreement, and to address breaches of fundamental rights and freedoms.

In the interests of Macedonia and the wider Western Balkan region, Ireland continues to support the country on its accession path and we urge the four leaders of the main political parties to continue engaging constructively to resolve outstanding issues. We fully support the EU’s efforts, and welcome the fact that regular reporting on progress is expected.

We feel that the engagement of the EU is particularly important at this time, and welcome the work of Commissioner Hahn and the MEPs in brokering the agreement of 2 June. We continue to work with our European partners to seek a resolution to these outstanding issues, and to monitor the situation closely.

It is the view of the European Union that the European perspective granted to the countries of the Western Balkans, including Macedonia, by the Thessaloniki Summit in 2003 is an important factor in maintaining local and regional stability. Macedonia is a candidate country for EU membership, and as such, the prevailing domestic political climate is of direct relevance to the EU, which maintains close contact with the country, including through its delegation office in Skopje.