EU and US say Macedonia not ready to hold elections

The European Union and the United States jointly said on 21 February 2016 that conditions had not been met for FYR Macedonia to hold snap parliamentary elections in April 2016. The new date was set to be over a month later, after the opposition threatened to boycott the polls over concerns they were open to fraud.

The European Parliament's foreign affairs committee considered on 29 February 2016 that it was of crucial importance to continue backing the country towards EU membership, but only if the agreement to solve the political crisis was implemented in full and substantial reforms were made effective.

In April 2016 the EU raised further concerns.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 22.02.16: EU and US urge Macedonia to postpone election https://euobserver.com/foreign/132378

ESO: Background information: A perfect storm: Macedonia’s political chaos and the refugee crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/a-perfect-storm-macedonias-political-chaos-and-the-refugee-crisis/

ESO: Background information: Choosing stability over reforms: Why Macedonia’s elections should be delayed http://www.europeansources.info/record/choosing-stability-over-reforms-why-macedonias-elections-should-be-delayed/

ESO: Background information: Macedonia PM to resign, opening door to elections http://www.europeansources.info/record/macedonia-pm-to-resign-opening-door-to-elections/

EurActiv, 22.02.16: Macedonia not ready for ‘credible’ polls by April: EU, US ambassadors http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/macedonia-not-ready-for-credible-polls-by-april-eu-us-ambassadors/

Balkan Insight, 21.02.16: EU, US Advise Postponing Macedonia Elections http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/eu-us-advise-postponing-macedonia-election-date-02-21-2016

EurActiv, 24.02.16: Macedonia elections postponed to 5 June http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/macedonia-elections-postponed-to-5-june/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 01.03.16: Apply Przhino deal in full to enhance EU prospects, urge MEPs http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160229IPR16412/

EP: EPRS: At a Glance, 03.03.16: FYR Macedonia: A 'conditional' recommendation http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2016/579063/EPRS_ATA(2016)579063_EN.pdf

Balkan Insight, 02.04.16: [Blog]: How to make EU mediation work in Macedonia http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/blog/how-to-make-eu-mediation-work-in-macedonia

---