Divided politicians - Macedonia stagnates on road to EU

Macedonia has stagnated on its road to the European Union due to divisions among politicians in the country, who are still not aware that they have to cooperate and help each other.

These are the remarks of Jelko Kacin, Member of European Parliament and the European Parliament's rapporeteur for Macedonia and also a member of the Bureau of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).

"Macedonia, the EU candidate-country, waits and still didn't get a starting date for accession talks. Politicians in Macedonia, both the Macedonian and Albanian, are still divided and don't understand that they can join the EU as a whole country only." Kacin said after the European Commission's progress report on Macedonia, presented earlier this month.

According to Kacin, following the shift of power in Macedonia, the progress is insufficient and not promising.

"The implementation of the Ohrid Agreement in practice shows that the majority and the minority are not aware that the country's progress on the road to EU is possible only through co-operation and assistance by all," Kacin said. The ALDE Group is the third largest political group in the European Parliament.