- The European Parliament on Thursday with 486 votes “in favor” adopted the Resolution on Macedonia in which the European parliament once again urges the European Council to determine a date for start of Macedonia’s accession talks without further delay. MEP Richard Howitt, who drafted the resolution, urged Greece to use its EU Presidency and give the integration process a fresh stimulus. Howitt is proud that a consensus for the Electoral Code has been reached, that dialogue between journalists and the government has been established and   that the budget has been adopted in normal proceedings. Howitt also urged the European Union to award Macedonia with a functioning market economy status.