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Blerim Reka
The Progress Report of the EC (2006): highlights the failure of OFA
implementation, in particular in terms of Badenter decision-making principle –
double qualified majority 6 . Implementation of the OFA remains crucial to the
enforcement of the positive environment for further reforms 7 , therefore, the
government was encouraged to continue with the process of full implementation
of the spirit and norm of the Ohrid Framework Agreement. 8
In the Progress Report for the RM (2007), the European Commission noted
“shortcomings in full implementation of the Ohrid Agreement”. 9
The Progress Report for the RM (2008) 10 , highlights that progress was made
in terms of the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, but its
effective implementation needs to move forward, through a concentual approach
and “a spirit of compromise” 11 .
The Progress Report of 2009 12 - stated that decentralisation, which is a basic
segment of the implementation of Ohrid Framework Agreement, continued. 13 It
6 The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2006 Progress Report, Brussels 08.11.2006
SEC(2006)1387ë Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2006- 2007 (Commission of the European
Communities, Brussels 8.11.2006, COM(2006)649. In areas linked to the reforms undertaken to
implement the Ohrid Framework Agreement, where decisions require a double majority: a majority
of MPs and a majority of the MPs belonging to non-majority communities. The necessary channels of
communication have to be established without further delay.
7 The implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement remains essential to foster a positive
environment for further reforms.
8 The commitment of the government to make progress in the implementation of the Ohrid
Framework Agreement remained essential for the country's stability. Inter-ethnic issues were not
conflicting issues during the electoral campaign. The Ombudsman’s annual report indicates that four
complaints relating to minority rights were received in 2005. This constitutes a substantial decrease
compared with the eleven complaints made in 2004. All political parties must continue to work on
building consensus on ethnic-related issues, in full compliance with the letter and spirit of the Ohrid
Framework Agreement
9 The Former Yougoslav Republic of Macedonia 2007 Progress Report, Commission Staff Working
Document , Brussels 6.11.2007, SEC(2007)1432ë Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2007-2008,
Brussels 6.11.2007, COM(2007)663
10 The Former Yougoslav Republic of Macedonia 2008 Progress Report (Brussels 05.11.2008
SEC(2008)2696 final).
11 In the annual Progress Report’s structure, assessment of the political criteria is done through
evaluation of achievements in the fields of democracy and rule of law, human rights and national
minorities, regional issues and international obligations.
12 Commission of the European Communities: “Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2009-2010”,
Brussels, 14.10.2009 COM(2009)533, par. 8; In order to fulfil this criteria, the EU (as well as the USA),
on the threshold of the meeting of the EU Council (in December 2009), made a pressure to Macedonia
to make efforts and find a solution to the name dispute with Greece. As a consequence, the EU’s
foreign and security policy chief, Javier Solana, arranged a meeting between Prime Ministers of the
RM - Gruevski and of Greece – Papandreou. It was the first meeting between the two (after the
unofficial one beween Crvenkovski – Karamanlis, 2004), and it took place on the sideliness of the
European Union summit in Brussels, (in the office of the Director for Western Balkans of the EU
Council, Mr. Zoltan Martinus), on 29.10.2009. The face-to-face meeting between the Greek Prime
Minister and his Macedonian counterpart lasted 25 minutes, from 16h35-17h00. The author of this
book was part of the delegation of the RM and accompanied the Prime Minister of the RM - Mr.
Gruevski in this meeting which the media described it as “a historical one”.
13 Decentralisation, which is a basic principle of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, continued. The Law
on Inter-Municipality Cooperation, which is intended to help municipalities exercise their powers
more effectively, was enacted in June. Another six of the 85 municipalities entered phase 2 of the
fiscal decentralisation process, which provides for a more substantial transfer of competencies to the
local level, leaving 17 in phase 1. Municipal tax collection improved. Municipalities received a higher
share of the revenue collected from management of State-owned land. Efforts were made to
strengthen the capacity of municipalities in the areas of property tax administration, public financial
management, debt management and financial control. Internal audit units were established in ten
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