“Macedonia is assuming steps to fulfill the criteria for membership in the European Unions. Progress has been made as regards implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and the Framework Agreement, as well as in the fulfillment of the benchmarks set by the European Commission. We regret that, three years after being assigned the status candidate country, Macedonia has still not started the negotiations for membership in the EU. This is discouraging for the state and citizens, and it increases the risk of destabilization of the region. To put an end to such situation, the EU Council should set a date for start of the negotiations by the end of this year,” states the Report on Macedonia’s progress in year 2008, which was adopted by the European Parliament today.

The European Parliament also calls on the European Commission to recommend to the EU Council full cancellation of the visa regime for the citizens of Macedonia by the end of year 2009, bearing in mind the country’s progress in the efforts for liberalization of the visa regime.