In his speech he pointed out that from a front-runner in EU integration among applicant countries, Macedonia has fallen in a continuous deep political crisis during Gruevski’s ruling. In his words, the functioning of state institutions raises serious concerns, and the government fails to demonstrate commitment to the fundamental democratic values and standards enshrined in the EU enlargement process.

Stanishev also expressed disappointment that the European institutions have long underestimated the situation in the country and have overlooked the development of an authoritarian regime in a candidate country. In his view, the present government uses all state institutions and services to its advantage, supresses business, media and the judiciary. ‘The EU cannot solve all internal problems of the country, but bears the responsibility to use all means and tools at its disposal to support Macedonian citizens in their strive for justice and democracy’, the socialist MEP said.

The socialist leader reminded that he had attended the civil rally in Skopje last Sunday not to teach or preach but to listen to the voices of the people. He was glad to see people of different political views and ethnic origin, civil society representatives and NGOs standing up together for their rights and freedoms and for democracy in the country. Stanishev concluded by quoting a student from the rally saying: ‘It’s not about who is in power and who is in opposition, but about the very functioning of our state’.

Another important topic discussed during the meeting was the upcoming Serbian chairmanship of OSCE. Stanishev stressed that the main challenge for Serbia in this capacity will be to monitor the implementation of the disarmament agreement struck during the Geneva conference between the US, Russia, Ukraine and the EU, as well as achieving a peaceful political solution to the conflict.

Minister Ivica Dačić elaborated on the internal political situation in Serbia and discussed relations between BSP and the Socialist Party of Serbia. Both expressed their wish for the close cooperation between the parties to continue.

Sergei Stanishev, MEP, welcomed the initiative of the Commission: ‘Vice-President Šefčovič presented a strategy which matches the demands of the Socialists and Democrats in Europe for the establishment of a modern energy policy which is both apt to climate changes and facilitates economic development and energy security. The S&D Group and PES will engage in an active and constructive dialogue with Commission to create a full-fledged Energy Union. This will lead to lower energy prices for citizens and industry, improve the competitiveness of European economy, will provide a solid framework for investments and will contribute to fostering growth and jobs. The Energy Union will make markets more independent from energy supplies from third countries. It is also crucial for the achievement of the EU target for 40% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 and will take Europe to a more credible leading position during the upcoming negotiations on climate change in Paris in December’.
The framework strategy adopted by the Commission foresees a package of measures for strengthening European energy diplomacy, fostering energy efficiency and the use of renewables, deepening of the internal energy market and increasing the number of transborder electricity interconnections. It also envisages a plan for Europe to become a world leader in research and innovations in the field of energy and climate change.

Socialists believe that the start of accession negotiations can have a positive impact on the country and give an impetus for progress in problematic areas, including unsolved bilateral issues. A decision to set a date for the negotiations to begin, however, would not be a ‘gift’, but will come on the basis of achieved results under clear criteria, Stanishev said.

The report adopted acknowledges the progress achieved so far by Macedonia and yet again shares the Commission’s recommendation to start accession negotiations with the EU, which have been stalled for the past 9 years due to the unresolved name dispute with Greece as well as lack of progress in the field of good neighbourly relations. However, MEPs also express serious concern over the ongoing political polarisation in the country, the judiciary, freedom of speech and media, condemn all forms of extreme nationalism which deepens the lines of division in the society, and so on.

According to Stanishev, despite ongoing negotiations for the signature of a Treaty on good neighbourliness with Bulgaria and the high-level contacts and visits, there is no real political will on the side of the Macedonian government for practical steps for joint celebrations of prominent historical events and characters, objective interpretation of history, etc. The amendments to the draft text proposed by Stanishev put an emphasis on the responsibility of the government to ensure the dialogue with opposition and civil society, especially when adopting new legislation and constitutional changes.

Commenting on the recent political scandal in Macedonia, Sergei Stanishev said: ‘The revelations of the opposition leader Zoran Zaev, SDSM President, for mass phone tapping, pressure exerted on media, control over the judiciary and others question not only the progress of Macedonia towards EU accession but also fundamental democratic principles and values. Carrying out an impartial, independent and objective investigation of all allegations will be a serious test not only for the judiciary but also for the freedom of media in the country. The deepening political gap between government and opposition does not allow for a constructive political dialogue to take place, and its place is in Parliament. The absence of the opposition there undermines the legitimacy of the pursued policies and the adopted legislation. Both sides have their responsibility before all Macedonian citizens for finding a way out of this situation in the name of the common goal – EU membership, economic and social prosperity.

The report is voted just a day before an official PES delegation led by Sergei Stanishev arrives in Skopje to get first-hand impressions and assessment of the situation with the mass phone tapping scandal.

On the eve of the meeting of the EU Heads of States and Governments on 12 February, Sergei Stanishev took part in a debate on the preparation of the European Council during EP’s plenary session in Strasbourg. The agenda of the summit tomorrow includes the situation in Ukraine, antiterrorist measures following the tragic events in Paris and strengthening of the Economic and Monetary Union as well as the political situation in Greece after the elections.

Speaking on the upcoming European Council meeting, Sergei Stanishev said: ‘I would like to stress that we still have a divided security zone inside the EU. As long as Bulgaria and Romania are kept out of Schengen, the common security of the European space is under threat’.

On Ukraine, PES President Stanishev said he expected positive developments towards the solution of the conflict after the meeting between Hollande, Merkel, Putin and Poroshenko in Minsk today. ‘We cannot allow more casualties and violence. We need a peaceful political solution to the conflict’, said MEP Stanishev. He called both on the EU and the Bulgarian government to reinforce the humanitarian aid for the Bulgarian community highlighting that there are between 300 000 and 500 000 Bulgarians in Ukraine who need our support and solidarity.

Stanishev also highlighted the need for re-negotiation of the payment plan for the public debt of Greece and called for a new reform agenda to revive the economic stability of the country. ‘Strengthening the social pillar of the Economic and Monetary Union is a key priority for the Socialists. We need a constructive, democratic dialogue to protect the unity of the Eurozone and to bring economic growth and jobs’, he added.

A preparatory meeting ahead of the European Council will take place tomorrow on the initiative of PES leader Stanishev where state leaders and commissioners from the socialist family will coordinate their positions on the items on the agenda of the Summit.

‘The ‘Danube’ transport corridor is of high importance but its capacity is not sufficiently used. As part of the Pan European transport corridor №7, ‘Danube’ is of key geopolitical significance for Europe’, Sergei Stanishev, Member of the European Parliament, told Commissioner Bulc. They discussed the priorities for the transport sector in the EU during the plenary session of the EP in Strasbourg. Commissioner Bulc underlined that ‘Danube’ holds a great potential and its further development will remain among Commissions priorities.

Stanishev said that for the Socialists and Democrats Group in the EP the reindustrialisation of Europe, as key to economic development and boosting competitiveness, is of utmost importance. In his view the modernisation of the railway network is also an important tool for the reindustrialisation as well as for reaching EU targets for greenhouse gas emissions. According to Stanishev, the proposed European Fund for Strategic Investments, created in the context of the Juncker Investment Plan, provides a good opportunity for financing more projects in the railway transport sector.

Stanishev said he was glad that that despite belonging to different political families they both shared a similar vision for the development of the sector and will cooperate closely during the current mandate.