The European Commission issued the Republic of Macedonia Wednesday (16 October) the fifth recommendation for opening EU membership negotiations. In addition to negotiations, the report, which EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule already presented at the European Parliament, also recommends an immediate start of the screening process (primarily Chapter 23 on freedom, justice and security, and Chapter 24 on judiciary and fundamental rights) and a new negotiating framework for the talks with Greece for resolution of the name issue. The EC is doing this, the report further adds, with the aim of keeping the credibility of the Union’s enlargement.

The European Commission says in its report it is confident that the decision for opening accession talks will contribute to creating favorable conditions for improving good-neighborly relations in general and to seeking out a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue in particular, which is vitally important.