Monday

2nd Oct 2023

EU and US broker early elections in Macedonia

  • Hahn (l) briefed press in Skopje alongside Gruevski and opposition leaders (Photo: ec.europa.eu)

EU-brokered talks in Macedonia have reached agreement on early elections, amid Russian complaints on outside interference.

The EU’s enlargement commissioner, Johannes Hahn, announced the deal in Skopje on Tuesday (2 June) after a nine-hour meeting with leaders of the four main political parties and with the US ambassador.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

The plan is to hold elections by April next year, following electoral reforms to be implemented by a new, transitional government.

The composition of the interim administration, including the role of PM Nikola Gruevski, remains to be decided, with a follow-up meeting due in Brussels on 10 June.

“It was agreed that by the end of April next year, there should be early elections, but it’s important to prepare the country. It’s about sound electoral codes, it’s about a revised voting list, it’s about respecting the rights of minorities”, Hahn said.

He noted the reforms will be based on chapters 23 and 24, on fundamental rights and rule of law, of the EU acquis.

Macedonia hasn’t started EU accession talks, despite the commission’s years-old recommendations to do so, due to a Greek and Bulgarian veto.

But Hahn added the reforms must be carried out under “time pressure” if the commission is to renew its recommendation later this year.

He called the crisis “an opportunity to modernise the country … to keep [Macedonia’s] Euro-Atlantic perspective alive”.

The crisis erupted in February, when the opposition SDSM party began to leak wiretaps exposing corruption and abuse of power in Gruevski’s top cadre.

It turned violent in May when special forces attacked what they called Albanian terrorists in an incident that threatened to reignite ethnic warfare.

It also prompted mass opposition protests in Skopje, where activists set up a tent camp on 17 May recalling events in Kiev last year.

Colour revolution?

The developments have seen Russia, once the dominant foreign power in the region, try to stir anti-EU feeling.

Russian deputy defence minister Anatoly Antonov, who is on an EU blacklist over Ukraine, said on Saturday the Macedonia unrest is a “colour revolution” which is being “outrageously orchestrated from the outside”.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, last month, also said the anti-Gruevski movement is being “crudely manipulated from the outside“ because the PM refused to join EU sanctions on Russia and because he agreed to take part in a new Russian gas pipeline, Turkish Stream.

“We can’t help feeling that there is some kind of connection”, he said at the time.

Other Russian allegations said Bulgaria is trying to split Macedonia in order to press territorial claims.

But for his part, Gruevski, on 29 May, broke with Moscow, saying he’d only take part in the pipeline if it conforms with EU single market law.

“Our position … is that when Brussels and Moscow will reach agreement on this project, we would participate in it,“ he told the Press24 news agency.

“We are a country that is geared towards the Euro-Atlantic community, and when making decisions of strategic importance it’s guided by this objective”.

Opinion

EU options on the Macedonia crisis

Corruption, ethnic power struggles, Russian meddling: Macedonia risks dragging the Western Balkans backward. But the EU has options.

Tens of thousands urge Macedonia PM to go

Tens of thousands of protestors on Sunday called for the resignation of Macedonian leader Gruevski - the biggest demonstration in 24 years of independence.

Bulgaria sends army to Macedonia border

Bulgaria has sent soldiers to its border with Macedonia, where a political crisis is brewing after the deaths of 22 people last weekend.

Opinion

Does Hahn get the Macedonia crisis?

Last week’s statement by Hahn on Macedonia’s election record comes at a terrible time and gives the impression he's out of touch with reality.

Opinion

Punish Belarus too for aiding Putin's Ukraine war

While Belarus has not sent its own troops to fight Russia's war in Ukraine, the Minsk dictatorship has been heavily involved. As a result, Belarus must be punished for its involvement — what can the world do to sanction Belarus?

Latest News

  1. Slovak's 'illiberal' Fico victory boosts Orban, but faces checks
  2. European Political Community and key media vote This WEEK
  3. Is the ECB sabotaging Europe's Green Deal?
  4. The realists vs idealists Brussels battle on Ukraine's EU accession
  5. EU women promised new dawn under anti-violence pact
  6. Three steps EU can take to halt Azerbaijan's mafia-style bullying
  7. Punish Belarus too for aiding Putin's Ukraine war
  8. Added-value for Russia diamond ban, as G7 and EU prepare sanctions

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  2. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  3. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  4. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  5. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations
  2. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  3. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  4. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us