Tuesday, 15 October 2019
Macedonia 15.10.19 | 23:42

Kovatchev: Bulgaria supports Macedonia’s EU accession; the treaty needs to be implemented without delay

Bulgarian member of he European Parliament Andrey Kovatchev, who is the Vice-Chair of the EPP party, told Lider that Bulgaria fully supports Macedonia in opening the EU accession talks. In an editorial for Lider, Kovatchev also explains his position on the historical narrative issues which have affected...

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 23:22

Corruption, lack of reforms, Zaev’s deal with Albania, cost Macedonia the accession date

The sad truth is that, even with a changed name and a bad treaty with Bulgaria, the Zaev Government was not able to get even a date to open EU accession talks, let alone actually open them, said VMRO-DPMNE Deputy President Aleksandar Nikoloski. Following the outcome of the meeting of European ministers...

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 21:04

Mucunski meets EPP officials, promises that VMRO will root out corruption in Macedonia, receives their support for EU accession

Timco Mucunski, who is the VMRO-DPMNE International Secretary, says that VMRO-DPMNE was given full support among the fellow conservative, EPP party members, to advance Macedonia quickly toward the EU and to root out corruption following the coming general elections in 2020. Mucunski had meetings at the...

Balkans 15.10.19 | 20:46

Avramopoulos warns that the fighting in Syria could cause another migrant wave

European Commissioner in charge of migration Dimitris Avramopoulos warned that the renewed fighting in Syria can cause a massive migration wave toward Greece. Avramopoulos discussed the Turkish operation in north Syria and said that it can dislodge thousands of Syrians to flee into Turkey. He blamed...

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 20:41

Nikoloski: Zaev needs to resign so we can still salvage what can be saved in 2020

Even after making all those concessions with our national interest, they were unable to receive a date to open, not close, but open the EU accession talks, said VMRO-DPMNE deputy leader Aleksandar Nikoloski. He cited the concessions which the Zaev regime made the Prespa treaty – imposing a new...

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 20:31

Hahn apologizes to the citizens of Macedonia and Albania, MIA reporter blames him of coupling the two countries together

Outgoing European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, who pushed very strongly to support the Zaev Government and impose the name change, was defensive and even emotional at times as he had to deliver the bad news that all the efforts did not result in a decision to open the EU accession talks. At...

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 20:13

Nikoloski: The Zaev Government didn’t even ask for decoupling of Macedonia from Albania

VMRO-DPMNE deputy president Aleksandar Nikoloski said that the Macedonian Government did not make any move to decouple itself from Albania and ensure a better position to open its EU accession talks. According to Nikoloski, this is due to the bargain which Prime Minister Zoran Zaev struck with Albanian...

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 19:55

Financial Times: France is afraid of Muslim immigrants and criminals, Knaus proposes to put the candidate countries in a Balkan economic zone

Financial Times reports that the reason France is hesitant over further EU enlargement toward the Balkans is the fear of Muslim migration and Balkan criminals. France came out swinging today against giving Macedonia and France the date to open their EU accession talks, and is pushing for a re-imagining...

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 18:43

No decision in Luxembourg – Macedonia and Albania did not get an EU accession talks date

European Union ministers failed to reach agreement on opening accession talks with Macedonia and Albania in face of strong opposition from France. Finnish European Affairs Minister Tytti Tuppurainen said that “unfortunately there were few member states that were hesitant and one member state that...

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 18:13

No decision on the EU accession date – GAC press conference (VIDEO)

EU foreign affairs ministers could not reach agreement on whether to allow Macedonia and Albania to open their accession talks. Watch the video of the press conference here – https://video.consilium.europa.eu/en/webcast/625095ea-e341-48c9-8700-b2827726362f

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 16:56

Taravari: The bribe video reveals how Ahmeti’s party is “DUIng business”

Following the latest corruption scandal involving a DUI party official, Gostivar Mayor Arben Taravari, from the opposition Alliance of Albanians, said that the perennially ruling party will have to be sent in the opposition. The scandal forced a resignation from Deputy Health Minister Amir Musa from...

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 16:44

Zaev remains hopeful “to the sky”, will go to Brussels himself to push for an accession date

Zoran Zaev expressed hope that Macedonia be given an EU accession date in October, and announced he will be going to Brussels and Luxembough himself as European leaders are discussing the proposal. Zaev used his favorite expression “to the sky” to express how high his hope is. I believe to...

Balkans 15.10.19 | 16:33

Rama: The sun will rise again tomorrow

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was stoical in face of the likely loss of the expected date to open EU accession talks in October. The sun will rise again and our efforts will continue, Rama said today. Albania, which is in a de-facto group with Macedonia, is seen as the weaker of the two candidates....

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 16:27

Zaev says no early elections if Macedonia doesn’t get an EU accession date

A day after he told US journalists that losing the EU accession date will bring down his Government, Zoran Zaev now says that he will not call for early elections if the decision this week is negative. Zaev says that another EU delay will completely collapse his Government We need regularity in our...

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 16:20

Boki 13 faces ancillary tax evasion charges

The UJP revenue service informs that companies associated with showman and suspected extortionist Bojan Jovanovski – Boki 13 have withheld taxes for 20 million denars (320.000 EUR). UJP investigated companies managing Boki 13’s television (1TV), his bogus charity group – the International...

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 16:01

Janusev: “Talks for Renewal of Macedonia” to be expanded with two more actions

“Talks for Renewal of Macedonia” have shown that citizens live in a difficult time filled with insecurity, revolt and many unresolved problems. Macedonia is on the wrong track, and the government is just wasting time. Every passing day means new problems, impoverishment, new blow to the dignity...

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 15:36

Finland proposes decoupling negotiations with Macedonia and Albania

After the first round of talks between EU member states on opening accession negotiations with Macedonia and Albania, the Finnish Presidency officially proposed decoupling negotiations with the two countries, diplomatic sources in Luxembourg told MIA. Three EU member states conformed the information...

Economy 15.10.19 | 14:43

Minimum wage to increase to MKD 14,500

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Tuesday they have reached an agreement with businesses and trade unions over an increase of the minimum monthly wage from MKD 12,507 (EUR 203) to MKD 14,500 (EUR 236). In 2017 we increased the minimum wage by MKD 3,500, and so far it was MKD 12,507 denars. Now we are increasing...

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 14:27

Will Zaev activate the written guarantees he received from the EU?

Macedonia’s top officials and the public are awaiting the European Council’s decision to open negotiations with Macedonia. Forecasts so far are not optimistic, mostly because of France’s firm stance, which opposes to Macedonia, Albania starting accession negotiations. Expectations are...

Macedonia 15.10.19 | 13:48

Dimitrov in Luxembourg: We’ve been waiting for start of EU negotiations for 14 years

Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov participated Tuesday in Luxembourg at the meeting of the European Ministers from the Party of European Socialists (PES), where he once again explained why Macedonia deserves to launch EU accession talks. It is a decision on North Macedonia, a country that has been waiting...

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