Is the EU Still the Right Road for Macedonia

I think that the EU constitution was rejected because of the fear of having Turkey as a member. If Macedonia is tied to Turkish membership, then we will never get in. Time for Macedonia to make contingency plans. Russia is calling.

FT.com / Home UK - Don't turn your backs on us, leaders of the former Yugoslavia plead with Brussels: "Don't turn your backs on us, leaders of the former Yugoslavia plead with Brussels
By Eric Jansson
Published: June 3 2005 03:00 | Last updated: June 3 2005 03:00

Balkan leaders yesterday urged the European Union to confirm its commitment to enlarging into the former Yugoslavia, after resounding No votes in France and the Netherlands cast doubt on the EU's future enlargement.

A June 16-17 meeting of European heads of government in Brussels could provide an opportunity for the EU to reinforce its Thessaloniki declaration of 2003, when leaders from all EU member states promised that 'the future of the Balkans is within the European Union'.

But with the EU leaders focused on the upheaval caused by No votes in this week's referendums on the European constitution, Balkan leaders could be disappointed.

Radmila Sekerinska, Macedonia's deputy prime minister, said in the capital Skopje: 'Enlargement is not something that should be stopped, having in mind the Thessaloniki summit, where the member states decided to proceed with the 'open door policy' and gave clear tasks for Europe to go forward with broadening the EU.'"