Speedy progress in the reforms could bring Macedonia a date for start of the negotiations for membership before the next annual European Commission report foreseen for November year 2007. This encouraging message was announced in Brussels yesterday by Finnish Minister for European Affairs Paula Lehtomaki, following the third regular meeting of the Council for Stabilization and Association between Macedonia and the EU.
An assessment of the progress made in Macedonia will not be given at the European Summit, which will be held in Brussels on 14 and 15 December and will be dedicated to the process for enlargement.
"The EU Council will evaluate the situation in the country at some other occasion. I am not saying that we will have to wait another year. The European Commission will monitor the situation in the country and it can propose a date for start of the negotiations earlier if it assesses that sufficient progress had been made," Lehtomaki said.
