Macedonia’s European story should be speeded up after the state holds fair and democratic elections, as befits an EU candidate country. This was the message conveyed to Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister in charge of EU Integration Ivica Bocevski by the Council of Europe and the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

The Cabinet of Assembly Chairman Trajko Veljanoski stated at a briefing on Wednesday that Macedonia could expect the visa regime to be cancelled in June or July this year, that is, at the end of the Czech Republic’s presidency and start of Sweden’s presidency of the EU. They noted that, in their contacts and meetings with representatives of the international community, they got the impression that, if Macedonia holds democratic elections, the European Commission would recommend in its annual report on Macedonia that a date be set for start of the negotiations for membership. According to Assembly Chairman Veljanoski’s Cabinet, this report would be released in October, a month earlier than usual.