site.btaUPDATED European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Encourages North Macedonia's EU Path

European Parliament's (EP) Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) adopted Tuesday a report on North Macedonia's progress on its EU path. A total of 40 MEPs voted in favour, 19 against and 10 abstained as the Committee commended the country's commitment to European integration, encouraging it to continue reform efforts despite political challenges and public frustration, EP's press centre said on Tuesday.

AFET did not allow the introduction of an oral amendment by the European People's Party (EPP) group in the text adding the definition "modern" before the words of "language and identity of North Macedonia". The Groups of the EPP, the Socialists and the Democrats, Renew Europe and the Greens said that before the expected vote in Strasbourg in July, they would make the same amendment in writing.

AFET Chair David McAllister noted that two years ago, the EP failed to approve North Macedonia's report and expressed hope that the document would be approved this time. He noted that earlier this month AFET postponed the vote.

On June 4, the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs decided to postpone the vote on the report on North Macedonia’s progress toward EU membership, following a proposal by rapporteur Thomas Waitz. The vote was postponed after all Bulgarian MEPs sent a letter expressing doubts about the report and reporting irregularities, including leaks of inside parliamentary information and controversial amendments, to officials in Skopje.

McAllister said that he does not approve of personal attacks against the rapporteur as it is not wrong to communicate with representatives of the country affected by the report. All countries must be heard before political decisions, he added.