"EU punishing Macedonia"

The EU is punishing Macedonia for the violent incidents at the recent parliamentary elections by not setting a date for the start of accession talks, reports AP. According to an original EU statement, prior to the elections, Brussels was "looking forward to opening talks with Macedonia by the end of the year." "EU punishing Macedonia" The new statement, however, only says that “further steps” are possible this year for Macedonia on its path towards EU integration. The statement is expected to be confirmed today in Brussels at the EU summit. Today’s summit will address the situation in Macedonia, which has EU candidate status and wants to begin membership talks. Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa said in Brussels that the EU stated on Thursday that a date would be set once a solution to the disagreement over the country’s name was resolved with EU member-state Greece. Because of the name disagreement, Greece is against EU talks with Macedonia, and the incidents during the parliamentary elections have done nothing to help Macedonia’s cause. Since the country gained independence in 1991, Greece has demanded that it change its name, because Macedonia is the name of Greece’s northern province, and the word “Macedonia” is of part Greek historical heritage. However, Athens is no longer calling for a complete change in name, but simply the addition of the prefix “New” or “Upper”. Greece blocked Macedonia’s chances of becoming a NATO member state in April of this year.

"EU punishing Macedonia"

The new statement, however, only says that “further steps” are possible this year for Macedonia on its path towards EU integration. The statement is expected to be confirmed today in Brussels at the EU summit.

Today’s summit will address the situation in Macedonia, which has EU candidate status and wants to begin membership talks.

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša said in Brussels that the EU stated on Thursday that a date would be set once a solution to the disagreement over the country’s name was resolved with EU member-state Greece.

Because of the name disagreement, Greece is against EU talks with Macedonia, and the incidents during the parliamentary elections have done nothing to help Macedonia’s cause.

Since the country gained independence in 1991, Greece has demanded that it change its name, because Macedonia is the name of Greece’s northern province, and the word “Macedonia” is of part Greek historical heritage.

However, Athens is no longer calling for a complete change in name, but simply the addition of the prefix “New” or “Upper”.

Greece blocked Macedonia’s chances of becoming a NATO member state in April of this year.