Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 11/2013

Macedonia - A country in crisis

Erwan Fouéré

September 2013

Centre for European Policy Studies

Abstract

Macedonia is a country in deep trouble. There is a climate of mistrust between all the political parties; intolerance of minority groups is increasing and fear is also generated by the all-pervasive control of the main governing party. In 2009 the European Commission recommended that a date be set for accession negotiations to start, but since then the country's efforts to join the EU (and NATO) have been blocked. Author Erwan Fouéré sets out ten clear recommendations for both Macedonia and the EU on the way forward.