On the way to the European Union - Where do we stand?

 

29.05.2012, 12h30 - 14h30, expert roundtable

The country has obtained candidate status seven years ago but still has not been invited to start EU accession negotiations and has not been accepted into NATO, owing mostly to the unresolved name dispute with Greece. Apart from this, last year’s progress report of the European Commission has been the most critical ever, highlighting problems in the field of media freedom, independent judiciary and public administration, the fight against corruption and a constructive political dialogue in the state. Even though the ruling government is ethnically more balanced with a coalition of VMRO-DPMNE and DUI, the latest violations have shown that inter-ethnic relations remain volatile and continue to give reason for concern. The International Court of Justice’s ruling from December 2011 has legally strengthened the country’s position but so far the UN-brokered name talks have continued without an agreement. The NATO summit in Chicago on 20-21 May 2012 will be a crucial event for the country’s aspiration to become a NATO-member.

In the light of these latest developments, the EU office of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is pleased to offer a platform for constructive dialogue among high ranking decision and policy makers on where the country stands on its way of EU integration and whether and how progress can be achieved in the medium-term future.

Due to unforeseen changes, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Teuta Arifi and Minister for Foreign Affairs Nikola Poposki had unfortunately to cancel their participation.
 
However, we are very pleased to welcome as guest speakers:
Radmilla Sekerinska, MP and Chair of National Council for European Integration
Prof. Nano Ruzin, Former Ambassador to NATO HQ Brussels and Presidential Candidate of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 2009
Dr. Malinka Ristevska Jordanova, Director, European Policy Institute
Our guests will share with us their points of view on where the country stands on its way to EU and NATO integration and whether and how progress can be achieved in the medium-term future.
As co-speakers from EU we are pleased to welcome:
MEP Richard Howitt, Rapporteur, Committee on Foreign Affairs, European Parliament
MEP Eduard Kukan, Shadow Rapporteur, Committee on Foreign Affairs, European Parliament
David Cullen, Head of Unit, DG Enlargement, European Commission (tbc)
Jonas Jonsson, Head of Division, Western Balkans, EEAS (tbc)

Contact: Stefanie.Ricken(at)fes-europe.eu