The serious warning by Brussels to the Government as regards the dispute with Austrian state company EVN provoked divided reactions in Macedonia. The months-old dispute resulted in a court ruling with which EVN Makedonija was fined 200 million euros. EVN responded to this, threatening to sue Macedonia before the Arbitration Court in Washington. Then came the announce-ment that the EU would inspect whether the Macedonian courts discriminate against foreign investors.

Domestic international law experts interpret this as open political pressure by the European Commission. On the other hand, the political parties say that the European Commission is authorized to review the court ruling, considering that the state wants to be-come a member of the European Union.